# NTSB ATL02LA009: Bass Moni, N117JB, Locust Grove, GA, November 3, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 3, 2001, 13:10 local (18:10 UTC) - Place: Locust Grove, GA - Coordinates: 33.345832, -84.109169 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.3458&lon=-84.1092&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report February 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA - Atlanta FSDO - 11 - NTSB case key (mKey): 53723 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL02LA009 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53723/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=53723 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA009 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during a low-altitude aerobatic maneuver, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin and subsequent uncontrolled descent into terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aerobatics - attempted, pilot in command (contributing factor) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The aircraft executed a high-powered pass approximately 25 feet above ground level down runway 07, then performed an abrupt pull-up into steep climbing loop maneuver. About 200 to 300 feet above the ground, the aircraft was inverted at the top of the loop, then it rolled upright and entered what appeared to be a stall, followed by a spin, and collided with the ground. Two witnesses reported the engine "burped," while other witnesses reported the engine sounded as if it were running smoothly. Examination of the wreckage revealed the nose section was separated, and the wings displayed extensive perpendicular crush damage. Continuity was established from the cockpit controls to the flight control surfaces. Engine continuity was established and both cylinders exhibited compression when the engine was turned by hand. ## Factual narrative On November 3, 2001, at 1310 eastern standard time, a James E. Bass, Moni Motor Glider, N117JB, collided with the ground while maneuvering at Mallard's Landing, a private airstrip, in Locust Grove, Georgia. The aircraft was owned and operated by the pilot, and the personal flight was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The airplane sustained substantial damage, and the airline transport pilot received fatal injuries. The local flight departed Locust Grove, Georgia, at an undetermined time. The aircraft and several others were participating in a fly-in at Mallard's Landing. According to witnesses, the aircraft executed a high-powered pass approximately 25 feet above ground level down runway 07, then performed an abrupt pull-up into steep climbing loop maneuver. About 200 to 300 feet above the ground, the aircraft was inverted at the top of the loop, then it rolled upright and entered what appeared to be a stall, followed by a spin, and collided with the ground in an 80-degree nose-low attitude. Two witnesses reported the engine "burped," while other witnesses reported the engine sounded as if it were running smoothly. Examination of the accident site revealed wreckage debris was scattered over an area approximately 40 feet square in the back yard of a residence adjacent to the sod runway. Debris from the propeller spinner and cowling was embedded in the ground, and the propeller assembly was separated and found 30 feet from the main wreckage. The nose section was separated, and the wings displayed extensive perpendicular crush damage from the leading edge aft. Continuity was established from the cockpit controls to the flight control surfaces. Engine continuity was established and both cylinders exhibited compression when the engine was turned by hand. The carburetor was destroyed. The Operator's Manual for the Rotax 447 engine states on Page 4-3, "This engine is not suitable for acrobatics (inverted flight, etc.)," and on Page 4-2, "Never fly the aircraft equipped with this engine at locations, airspeeds, altitudes, or other circumstances from which a successful no-power landing cannot be made after sudden engine stoppage." The postmortem examination of the pilot was performed on November 4, 2001, by Dr. John B. Parker at the Henry County Medical Center Morgue in Stockbridge, Georgia. Blount force trauma The Forensic toxicology was performed by the FAA Toxicology and Accident Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The tests were negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, drugs and alcohol. The aircraft maintenance logbooks were not recovered for examination. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N117JB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N117JB-2002-03-25), registration cancelled 2002-03-25, S/N 21, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bass Moni - Registry model: [Bass James E MONI](https://openairdocs.org/model/bass-james-e-moni) (registry code 05659X5) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Glider, amateur-built - Serial number: 21 - Engines: Rotax 447 40 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James E. Bass - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: GA04, Locust Grove, GA - Airport: GA04, Mallard's Landing, runway 07, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: fatal; airline transport, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: single; toxicology performed; flight hours: 36,500 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.25 inHg - Observed at: FFC, 24 nm away ## 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 20011103032199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011103032199A), Nov 3, 2001: Amtr MONI, Locust Grove, GA, No damage, 1 fatal. (-23) Following the pilot's third low level fast speed pass, about 15 feet over the runway, he pulled the aircraft up into a climb and appeared to enter an… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 21, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=53723. 707 KB in all. - Witness Statements - Mordas (2), Miller, Basile, Sargaent, Pace Fox (item 1, .PDF, 362 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456603&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements%20-%20Mordas%20(2),%20Miller,%20Basile,%20Sargaent,%20Pace%20Fox-Master.PDF - Rotax Operator's Manual Excerpts (item 2, .PDF, 253 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40171798&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Rotax%20Operator%27s%20Manual%20Excerpts-Master.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 3, .PDF, 91 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40456604&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Master.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.