What happened
During a flight originating from Pine Bluff, the aircraft was performing low-altitude maneuvers, including flying over a beach. While traveling over a farmhouse, the crew executed sharp turns and a rolling maneuver at a very low altitude. The aircraft failed to regain sufficient height before impacting several trees. Following the collision with the trees, the plane flipped over and came to rest upside down in a farm pond that was approximately four to five feet deep.
Findings
Investigation into the accident revealed that the pilot was performing aerobatics during the flight. The primary contributing factors included poor judgment by the pilot in command regarding the execution of maneuvers at such low altitudes. Specifically, the aircraft was not maintained at a safe altitude to allow for recovery following the roll. The crash sequence concluded with the aircraft striking trees and subsequently submerging in the pond, which led to the death of the pilot due to drowning.