# NTSB ATL95LA153: Yothment KOLB-FIRESTAR II, N94SY, Lawrenceville, GA, August 11, 1995

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 11, 1995, 18:45 local (22:45 UTC)
- Place: Lawrenceville, GA
- Location: 33.9781° N, 83.9624° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at GWINNETT COUNTY/BRISCOE FLD (LZU), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9781&lon=-83.9624&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 27, 1996
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 3611
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL95LA153
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/3611/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL95LA153

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain flying speed. A factor was the pilot's lack of familiarity with the aircraft.

## 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)
  - lack of familiarity with aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

The private pilot was performing his first takeoff in this airplane. He rotated early and over rotated due to the neutral stick position being farther forward than expected. The airplane stalled and subsequently collided with the ground.

## Factual narrative

On August 11, 1995, at 1845 eastern daylight time, a Yothment Kolb-Firestar II, N94SY, collided with the ground during takeoff from the Gwinnett County Airport, Lawrenceville, Georgia. The personal flight operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The private pilot was not injured and the airplane received substantial damage. The flight was originating at the time of the accident.

According to the pilot, since this was his first flight in N94SY, he was not familiar with the aircraft characteristics, and did not apply enough forward stick for the takeoff. As the aircraft climbed, the nose pitched up, and the airplane stalled. No mechanical problems with the airplane were reported.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N94SY](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N94SY-2003-12-02), registration cancelled 2003-12-02, S/N FS-134, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: YOTHMENT KOLB-FIRESTAR II (KOLB-FIRES)
- Registry model: [Yothment Steven R KOLB FIRESTAR II](https://openairdocs.org/model/yothment-steven-r-kolb-firestar-ii) (registry code 05625EX) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Kawasaki ALL MDLS A/B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/kawasaki-all-mdls-a-b) (registry code 35500, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: FS-134
- Airframe hours: 1
- Engines: KAWASAKI 440B 48 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Steven Yothment
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, August 8, 1995, 1 hours before
- Departed: LZU
- Airport: LZU, Gwinnett County, runway 7, 4,012 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 84 total, 84 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 3 knots, gusting 3
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 68 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: LZU

## 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 19950811023289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950811023289A), Aug 11, 1995: Amtr FIRESTARMK12, Lawrenceville, GA, Substantial damage. First flight of homebuilt. Premature liftoff. Stalled nose high. Climb. No mechanical problems reported.

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.

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