Aviat Pitts S-2B accident near Milwaukee, Wisconsin, March 13, 2002
On March 13, 2002 at about 9:38 pm local time, a Aviat Pitts S-2B, registered N29RG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Lawrence J. Timmerman airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. A factor in the accident was the telephone pole.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 13, 2002 · about 9:38 pm local time
- Place
- Milwaukee, Wisconsin · Lawrence J. Timmerman
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aviat Pitts S-2B
- Registration
- N29RG · registry record · serial 5229
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane experienced a total loss of engine power approximately three minutes after departure and the pilot performed a forced landing into an agricultural field. During the forced landing, the airplane impacted a telephone pole. During a post-accident inspection the engine was started and ran without anomalies between 600 and 800 rpm. The engine was not run at a higher rpm due to vibrations caused by the bent propeller. The engine responded to throttle control inputs and the engine was shut down using the mixture control. The propeller was removed, straightened, and reinstalled on the engine. The engine was subjected to a static power-run and operated with no anomalies at 2,500 rpm for approximately 10 minutes. No anomalies were found with the fuel system and/or engine that could be associated with any preexisting condition that would have precluded the normal operation of the engine.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,500 hours in all; 700 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 1,500 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 4, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 430 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 10, 2001; 40 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Textron Lycoming AEIO-540-D4A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MWC Milwaukee WI at 9:31 pm
- Destination: MWC Milwaukee WI
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 12,000 ft
- Temperature: 52°F (11°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.84 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 pm from MWC, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.