# NTSB ATL04LA033: Bartholomew Firestar, N432JR, Waxhaw, NC, November 2, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 2, 2003, 17:20 local (22:20 UTC) - Place: Waxhaw, NC - Coordinates: 34.863609, -80.747222 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.8636&lon=-80.7472&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Charlotte FSDO-33 - NTSB case key (mKey): 58273 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL04LA033 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/58273/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL04LA033 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed while maneuvering on final approach resulting in an inadvertent stall and in-flight collision with trees and the ground. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - airspeed(vso) - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot stated he was on final approach at the JAARS-Townsend Airport. He realized that he was too high, so he made a 360-degree turn to the left followed by a 360-degree turn to the right. The turn rate was almost completed when the right roll rate increased due to encountering the wake turbulence from the initial 360-degree turn. The airplane stalled and collided with the trees and the ground. ## Factual narrative On November 2, 2003, at 1720 Eastern Standard Time, a Bartholomew Firestar, N432JR, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, stalled and collided with trees on approach for landing at JAARS-Townsend Airport, Waxhaw, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage. The flight originated from Waxhaw, North Carolina, on November 2, 2003, at 1620. The pilot stated he realized he was too high on the approach, so he made a right 360-degree turn to the left followed by a 360-turn to the right. The turn rate was almost completed when the right roll rate dramatically increased due to wake turbulence from the initial 360-degree turn causing the right wing to stall and the airplane collided with the trees and ground. When asked what his airspeed was when the airplane stalled the pilot stated about 29 mph. Review of performance data from the Kolb Aircraft Company, revealed the Firestar airplane will stall in the clean and landing configuration at 33 mph. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N432JR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N432JR-2012-08-27), registration cancelled 2012-08-27, S/N BHHW-1 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Bartholomew Firestar - Registry model: [Bartholomew Paul FIRESTAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/bartholomew-paul-firestar) (registry code 05612DZ) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: BHHW-1 - Airframe hours: 818 - Engines: Rotax 377 35 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Cornelius A. Wolfe - Registered owner: Paul Bartholomew - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 26, 2003, 10 hours before - Departed: 2NC1, Waxhaw, NC - Destination: N52, Waxhaw, NC - Airport: N52, JAARS-Townsend ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: minor; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 6, 1999; seat: front; flight hours: 4,106 total, 500 in this make and model, 3,791 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: CLT, 25 nm away ## Other investigations on N432JR (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 ATL95LA018](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA018), Nov 25, 1994: Bartholomew Firestar (N432JR), High Point, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: THE INADVERTENT DEACTIVATION OF THE ENGINE IGNITION SYSTEM BY THE PILOT, WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF ENGINE POWER. 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.