Aviat Pitts S-2B accident near Cromwell, Minnesota, October 10, 2003
On October 10, 2003 at about 11:05 pm local time, a Aviat Pitts S-2B, registered N68PS, was destroyed in an accident near Cromwell, 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 altitude/clearance not maintained by the pilot while performing aerobatic maneuvers. Contributing factors were the planning/decision to perform an aerobatic maneuver at a low altitude.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 10, 2003 · about 11:05 pm local time
- Place
- Cromwell, Minnesota · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aviat Pitts S-2B
- Registration
- N68PS · registry record · serial 5320
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted a lake while performing aerobatics at an altitude of about 1,500 feet above ground level. A witness, who stated that he was familiar with the pilot's aerobatic routine stated that the pilot began an intentional spin about 1,500 feet above ground level (AGL), initiated a recovery at 150-200 feet AGL, and impacted the lake. Examination of the wreckage confirmed flight control continuity. The pilot was found in the rear seat secured by the airplane restraint harness. He was wearing a parachute.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,317 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 496.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 4, 2002; 425.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,700 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming AEIO-540-D4A5 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DLH Duluth MN at 10:40 pm
- Destination: DLH MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 66°F (19°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from COQ, 22 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.