Smith Rans S-7 accident near Baudette, Minnesota, April 26, 2003
On April 26, 2003 at about 3:50 pm local time, a Smith Rans S-7, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N272T, was destroyed in an accident near Baudette, Minnesota. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in a stall. A contributing factor was the low altitude maneuver by the student pilot.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 26, 2003 · about 3:50 pm local time
- Place
- Baudette, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Smith Rans S-7, amateur-built
- Registration
- N272T · registry record · serial 0496184
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The amateur-built experimental airplane was destroyed on impact after it was observed maneuvering over a house at tree top level. The airplane was piloted by a student pilot whose medical certificate was expired. According to a witness, the airplane was very low. It was heading south and started to go up and turn toward the left. The turn was very sharp, the left wing dropped, and the airplane nose-dived into the ground. A post crash examination revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation.
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: student
- Flight time: 52 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: ctr
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 324 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 6, 2002
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bombardier Rotax Series (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: BDE Baudette MN
- Destination: BDE Baudette MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 30°F (-1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from BDE, 3 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.