# NTSB ANC22FA005: Gerald Jones 2+2, N540AK, Kodiak, AK, November 7, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Field · Final report - Date: November 7, 2021, 14:02 local (23:02 UTC) - Place: Kodiak, AK - Coordinates: 57.805489, -152.36548 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.8055&lon=-152.3655&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Lycoming, FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 104214 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC22FA005 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104214/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104214 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC22FA005 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Gerald Jones 2+2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05633KX), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Gerald Jones 2+2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05633KX), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Gerald Jones 2+2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=05633KX), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Gerald Jones 2+2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05633KX), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis Numerous witnesses reported that, shortly after takeoff, the airplane entered a steep right turn, the nose dropped, and the airplane entered a spiraling descent in a near-vertical attitude. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no evidence of mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The damage to the airplane and surveillance video were consistent with a near-vertical descent indicative of an aerodynamic stall. Based on the available information, it is likely that the pilot failed to maintain sufficient airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall. ## Factual narrative On November 07, 2021, about 1402 Alaska standard time, an experimental, amateur-built 2+2 airplane, N540AK, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Kodiak, Alaska. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot departed from Kodiak Municipal Airport (KDK), Kodiak, Alaska, destined for a remote off-airport landing site near Saltery Cove. A friend of the pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to transport hunting gear to the remote location to establish a hunting camp. Numerous witnesses reported that, shortly after departure from KDK, the airplane entered a steep right turn, the nose dropped, and the airplane entered a spiraling descent in a near-vertical attitude. The airplane impacted a gravel road at an elevation of about 92 ft mean sea level. A surveillance camera captured the impact sequence and showed the airplane impact in a right-wing-low, near-vertical attitude. The airplane came to rest about 25 ft from the initial impact site in a heavily wooded area and sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and tail. A postaccident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N540AK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N540AK-2022-04-12), registration cancelled 2022-04-12, S/N 001, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GERALD JONES 2+2 - Registry model: [Gerald Jones 2+2](https://openairdocs.org/model/gerald-jones-2-plus-2) (registry code 05633KX) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-540 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-540-series) (registry code 41532, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 001 - Year built: 2018 - Engines: LYCOMING O-540 SERIES 250 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Destination: Same as departure - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; toxicology performed; flight hours: 200 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 320° at 11 knots, gusting 19 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 29.74 inHg - Observed at: PADQ, 5 nm away - METAR: PADQ 072153Z 32011G19KT 290V350 10SM CLR 02/M05 A2974 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20211107018989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20211107018989A), Nov 7, 2021: Gerald Jones 2+2, Kodiak, AK, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Aircraft departed rwy 2 and climbed to approx. 200' AGL, then made a hard right turn, and continued climb to about 300' AGL. Aircraft then made rapid almost… ## Docket (11 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 7, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104214. 10.4 MB in all. - Engine monitoring device (edm) - specialist's factual report (item 1, PDF, 5 pages, 837 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13971541&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=anc22fa005%20report_Final-Rel.pdf - Attachment 1 to engine monitoring device (edm) - specialist's factual report (item 2, CSV, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13337152&FileExtension=csv&FileName=Attachment1_correctedTime-Rel.csv - GPS email report (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 139 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13336870&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=GPS%20email%20report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Attachment 1 - GPS report (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 671 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13337971&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20GPS-Rel.pdf - Attachment 2 - GPS report (item 5, CSV, 723 B): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13337581&FileExtension=csv&FileName=ANC22FA005_N540AK_GPSTracks-Rel.csv - Witness statements (item 6, PDF, 12 pages, 219 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13760834&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WITNESS%20STATEMENTS%20-%20DMS_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Wreckage examination summary (item 7, PDF, 9 pages, 2.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13977702&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ANC22FA005%20Wreckage%20Summary-Rel.pdf - Autopsy memorandum for record (item 8, PDF, 1 page, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13878254&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Autopsy%20Memo%20for%20Record%20-Rel.pdf - Statement of party representatives to NTSB investigation (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 307 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13759341&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Party%20Form%20DMS_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Toxicological report (item 10, PDF, 1 page, 170 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13337887&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Toxicology%20Report%20DMS_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 11, PDF, 4 pages, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13032813&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf 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. --- 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.