Accident Summary
An accident occurred involving an aircraft that, after performing low-altitude maneuvers, struck trees and came to rest inverted in a farm pond approximately 4-5 feet deep. The autopsy report indicated the pilot's death was caused by asphyxia due to drowning.
Passenger Account
According to a passenger, the aircraft executed sharp turns at low altitude over a farm house and then performed a roll. The passenger stated that the aircraft was too low to recover before striking trees. The passenger also reported that earlier during the flight en route from Pine Bluff, the aircraft had flown low over a beach and performed a roll.
Official Findings
The official probable cause for the accident was an in-flight collision with an object during maneuvering. The findings identified the following factors: the pilot in command demonstrated poor judgment; the pilot performed aerobatics; the aircraft struck tree(s); and the pilot did not maintain proper altitude.