# NTSB CEN12LA565: Kolb MK-3, N520SK, Onondaga, MI, August 19, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 19, 2012, 17:50 local (21:50 UTC) - Place: Onondaga, MI - Coordinates: 42.444999, -84.5625 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4450&lon=-84.5625&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 25, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 84762 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA565 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84762/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84762 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA565 ## Probable cause The noncertificated pilot's inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in landing on a runway of inadequate length and subsequent runway excursion. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Kolb MK-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=0590114), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Kolb MK-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=0590114), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Planning/preparation: performance calculations](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Kolb MK-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md?model=0590114), [All aircraft, 114 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061010/cases.md) - [Airport facilities/design: runway/landing area length](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017037): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Kolb MK-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017037/cases.md?model=0590114), [All aircraft, 34 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03017037/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Kolb MK-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=0590114), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The noncertificated pilot reported taking off from his private airstrip and flying to a friend’s grass airstrip. Upon landing, he found that the destination airstrip was too short. The airplane overran the end of the runway and impacted a stump. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On August 19, 2012, about 1750 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Kolb Aircraft Company Mark 3 airplane, N520SK, impacted a tree and terrain while landing on a private airstrip near Onondaga, Michigan. The noncertificated pilot, who was the sole occupant, reported no injuries. The airplane sustained substantial wing and fuselage damage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual flight rules (VFR) conditions prevailed for the flight, which did not operated on a VFR flight plan. The flight originated from a private airstrip near Eaton Rapids, Michigan, about 1735. According to the pilot’s accident report, he flew to the destination airstrip where he found that the strip was too short for the speed of the landing. The airplane went off the end of the runway and impacted a stump. The pilot indicated that there were no malfunctions with the airplane during the accident flight. At 1756, the recorded wind at the Jackson County Airport-Reynolds Field, near Jackson, Michigan, was 250 degrees at 5 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N520SK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N520SK-2014-11-12), registration cancelled 2014-11-12, S/N 01050, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: KOLB AIRCRAFT CO MK-3 - Registry model: [Kolb MK-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/kolb-mk-3) (registry code 0590114) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582SER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (registry code 55556, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 01050 - Airframe hours: 444 - Engines: ROTAX 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 1, 2010 - Departed: Eaton Rapids, MI - Destination: PVT, Onondaga, MI - Airport: PVT, Private ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; seat: left ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: JXN, 12 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 20120819019219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120819019219A), Aug 19, 2012: Kolb Aircraft Co MK-3, Onondaga, MI, Substantial damage. On 19 August 2012 the individual took off from a private grass strip located at 6147 wilcox rd. eaton rapids, MI. 48827. While attempting to land at another… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 7, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84762. 966 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 966 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387113&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-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.