# NTSB ATL02LA100: Taber Lancair Super ES, N600MT, Hattiesburg, MS, May 16, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 16, 2002, 16:14 local (21:14 UTC) - Place: Hattiesburg, MS - Coordinates: 31.2525, -89.254997 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.2525&lon=-89.2550&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report August 26, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 54738 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL02LA100 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54738/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54738 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA100 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during takeoff which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent collision with the ground. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis Witnesses observed the airplane as the pilot conducted touch-and-go landings. On the last take-off, witnesses stated that they heard a popping sound, and they observed the airplane in a steep right turn. Then they heard a series of three rapid pops and the airplane went nose down and impacted the ground in a wooded area and an explosion was heard. Examination of the airplane found it completely destroyed by impact and post-crash fire. The engine was recovered and sent to Teledyne Continental Motors, Inc. for further examination. Examination of the engine found extensive impact and post-crash fire damage. The number 6 exhaust rocker arm was missing, the number 6 head was broken at the exhaust area during impact, tearing off the rocker arm and support boss structure. The magnetos and fuel system components had extensive fire damage not allowing further testing. There was no evidence found during the engine examination that would have contributed to a power loss. ## Factual narrative On May 16, 2002, at 1614 central daylight time, an experimental Mark K. Taber, Lancair Super ES, N600MT, registered to and operated by the private pilot, collided with the ground and burst into flames shortly after takeoff from the Bobby L. Chain Municipal airport in Hattiesburg, Mississippi. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight. The pilot and pilot rated passenger received fatal injuries, and the airplane was destroyed by impact and post-crash fire. The flight originated from the Bobby L. Chain Municipal Airport in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, on May 16, 2002, at 1600. Witnesses observed the airplane as the pilot conducted touch-and-go landings. On the last take-off, witnesses stated that they heard a popping sound, and they observed the airplane in a steep right turn. A series of three rapid pops were heard and the airplane nosed down and collided with the ground in a wooded area; a subsequent explosion was heard. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane had received extensive fire damage. The engine was recovered and sent to Teledyne Continental Motors, Inc., for further examination. Examination of the engine found extensive crush and fire damage. The number 6 exhaust rocker arm was missing, the number 6 head was broken at the exhaust area during impact, separating the rocker arm and support boss structure. The magnetos and fuel system components sustained extensive fire damage which prevented functional testing. No component or system failure was noted during the engine examination. The pilot held a private pilot certificate. His total flight time as of his last medical dated June 11, 2001 was 95 hours in all aircraft. The pilots log book was not recovered. The pilot completed a third class medical examination on June 11, 2001. The postmortem examination of the pilot was at the Forrest County Coroners Office, Mississippi. The reported cause of death was multiple blunt force trauma injuries. The Forensic toxicology was performed by the FAA Toxicology and Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The toxicological examination showed No carbon monoxide detected in blood, no cyanide detected in blood, no ethanol detected in Vitreous, however, 0.0202 (ug/ml, ug/g) Tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid (marihuana) detected in Liver, 0.0218 (ug/ml, ug/g) tetrahydrocannabinol carboxylic acid (marihuana) detected in urine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N600MT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N600MT-2017-02-28), registration cancelled 2017-02-28, S/N ES-051, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Taber Lancair Super ES - Registry model: [Taber Mark K SUPER ES](https://openairdocs.org/model/taber-mark-k-super-es) (registry code 05609G0) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-550 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-550-series) (registry code 17042, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: ES-051 - Engines: Continental IO-550-G 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Mark K. Taber - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: HBG, Hattiesburg, MS - Destination: HBG, Hattiesburg, MS - Airport: HBG, Hattiesburg Municipal Airport, runway 13, 6,219 × 150 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 95 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.12 inHg - Observed at: HBG ## 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 20020516009919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020516009919A), May 16, 2002: Amtr LANCAIRSUPES, Hattiesburg, MS, No damage, 2 fatal. (.19) On may 16, 2002, at 1614 central daylight time, a mark k. taber, lance air es, N600MT, registered to and operated by the private pilot, collided with… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 30, 2003, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54738. 515 KB in all. - Toxicological Reports (item 1, .PDF, 152 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384967&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Reports-Redacted.PDF - Wreckage Diagram (item 2, .PDF, 19 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40183216&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Wreckage%20Diagram-Master.PDF - Engine Teardown Report (item 3, .PDF, 292 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384968&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Engine%20Teardown%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statements (item 4, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40384969&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statements-Redacted.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.