# Accident 19990821013139A: Amtr KOLBMK3, Scott, OH, August 21, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: August 21, 1999, 19:40 local time - Place: Scott, OH - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct) - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 41.3297° N, 83.2897° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3297&lon=-83.2897&mi=10 - Aircraft: N6268A, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6268A-2002-04-25) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Klotz Emerson L KOLB MARK 3 (registry code 05602RR, https://openairdocs.org/model/klotz-emerson-l-kolb-mark-3) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL) (registry code 09050, https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMTR KOLBMK3 - Reported engine: ROTAX ROTAX582 - People aboard: 2 - Fatal injuries: 2 - Pilot flight hours: 241 total - NTSB investigation: [NTSB NYC99LA208](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA208) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990821013139A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. ACFT TOOK OFF FROM A GRASS STRIP AND STRUCK THE GROUND AT A STEEP ANGLE APPROXIMATELY 5-10 MINUTES LATER, THE 2 POB SUFFERED FATAL INJURIES, THE ACFT WAS DESTROYED, OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES ARE UNKNOWN. (.19) ON AUGUST 21, 1999, ABOUT 1940 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME, A HOMEBUILT KOLB MARK III, N6268A, WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AFTER IMPACTING TERRAIN NEAR SCOTT, OHIO. THE CERTIFICATED PRIVATE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE FATALLY INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED FOR THE LOCAL FLIGHT CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91. ACCORDING TO WITNESSES, THE PILOT HAD DEPARTED FROM AN AIRSTRIP LOCATED ON HIS PROPERTY, HEADING IN A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION. THE AIRPLANE CLIMBED TO ABOUT 200 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND, THEN LEVELED OFF. ABOUT 3 MINUTES LATER, THE ENGINE NOISE BEGAN TO DECREASE, "LIKE HE WAS THROTTLING BACK." THE AIRPLANE BEGAN A LEFT TURN, AND DISAPPEARED FROM VIEW. THE WITNESS THEN HEARD THE SOUND OF "PLASTIC TEARING, AND BREAKING OF CORN STALKS." A SECOND WITNESS, WHO NOTICED THE AIRPLANE AFTER IT PASSED OVERHEAD, STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE MADE A "WEIRD SOUND" AND DESCENDED NOSE FIRST TOWARD THE GROUND. A RESIDENT, LOCATED ABOUT 1/2 MILE SOUTHWEST OF THE WRECKAGE, FOUND A PART OF THE AIRPLANE IN A BEAN FIELD, AND TURNED IT OVER TO THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES. A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR LATER IDENTIFIED THE PART AS A GAP SEAL. THE GAP SEAL WAS AN AIRFOIL SHAPED PIECE OF PLEXI-GLASS, USED TO FILL THE GAP LEFT IN-BETWEEN THE WINGS WHEN THEY ARE ASSEMBLED. THE WRECKAGE WAS RETAINED FOR FURTHER EXAMINATION. (.4)THE HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE DEPARTED FROM AN AIRSTRIP HEADING IN A SOUTHERLY DIRECTION, AND WAS OBSERVED TURNING TO THE LEFT TO A NORTHWEST HEADING. THE AIRPLANE THEN DESCEND INTO A BEAN FIELD IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE. THE AIRPLANES GAP SEAL, AN AIRFOIL SHAPED PIECE OF PLEXI-GLASS USED TO FILL THE GAP WHICH REMAINED IN-BETWEEN THE WINGS WHEN THEY WERE ASSEMBLED, WAS FOUND ABOUT 1/2-MILE SOUTHWEST OF THE WRECKAGE. ACCORDING TO A REPRESENTATIVE OF THE AIRPLANE KIT MANUFACTURER, TESTING WITH THE GAP SEAL REMOVED INDICATED THAT PERFORMANCE WAS REDUCED DUE TO THE 'RESULTING LOSS OF LIFT.' THE REPRESENTATIVE FURTHER ADDED 'SOME PILOTS WOULD ALSO FORGET TO PROPERLY SECURE THE GAP SEAL BEFORE FLYING, WHICH WOULD BE HELD BY 2 SPRINGS TO THE FUSELAGE AND A CENTER HOLD DOWN CATCH.' EXAMINATION OF THE GAP SEAL REVEALED THAT THE REAR LEFT-HAND SPRING WAS STILL ATTACHED AND NOT STRETCHED OR DAMAGED. THE RIGHT-HAND SPRING WAS NOT RECOVERED. THE CENTER HOLD DOWN CATCH WAS ALSO EXAMINED AND IT DID NOT DISPLAY ANY DAMAGE. (-23)ON 8/21/99 N6268A TOOK OFF ABOUT 1944 HEADING NE. ABOUT 1944 THE AIRCRAFT CRASHED. EYEWITNESSES REPORTED THAT THE AIRCRAFT NOSE-DIVED INTO THE GROUND. BOTH OCCUPANTS WERE KILLED. INITIAL INSOECTION REVEALED ALL MAJOR PARTS OF THE AIRCRAFT WERE IN THE AREA OF IMPACT. SUBSEQUENT INSPECTION REVELED THAT THE GAP SEAL, SECTIONAL AREA OF WING ATTACHED BETWEEN TOW WINGS, WAS FOUND A QUARTER OF MILE FROM IMPACT SITE. IT APPEARED THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL ROTATING AT TIME OF IMPACT. FUEL TANKS CONTAINED FUEL AFTER IMPACT. ## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1) From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. - [NTSB NYC99LA208](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA208), Aug 21, 1999: Klotz Kolb Mark III (N6268A), Scott, OH, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in a stall, after he experienced a loss of lift due to an improperly installed gap seal. From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.