# NTSB CEN14LA379: Kolb Mark III, Jonesville, LA, July 1, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 30, 2014, 20:00 local (Jul 1, 2014, 01:00 UTC) - Place: Jonesville, LA - Coordinates: 31.675832, -91.834442 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.6758&lon=-91.8344&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report June 9, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 89702 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN14LA379 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89702/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89702 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN14LA379 ## Probable cause The noncertificated pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Awareness of condition (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The owner of the light-sport airplane reported that the noncertificated pilot was taking aerial photographs during the accident flight. A witness reported observing the airplane flying low in a turn and then losing sight of the airplane as it disappeared behind trees. He regained sight of the airplane as it climbed back up above the trees and then heard the engine rev several times before the airplane disappeared behind the trees again. Witness marks and impact damage were consistent with the airplane striking a treetop before colliding with the ground. An examination of the airplane, engine, and related systems revealed no preimpact anomalies. ## Factual narrative The accident airplane, a Kolb Mark III, was not registered with the FAA. The two seat airplane met the requirements of a light sport airplane. The FAA inspector who responded to the accident reported that there were no maintenance logbooks, no registration paperwork, and no airworthiness certificate for the airplane. The owner of the airplane understood that as long as only one person was on board, it did not need to be registered with the FAA. The light sport airplane did not meet the definition of an ultralight and was required to be registered with the FAA. On June 30, 2014, about 2000 central daylight time, an unregistered Kolb Mark III light sport airplane, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain under unknown circumstances near Jonesville, Louisiana. The non-certificated pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was owned by a private individual and operated under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which operated without a flight plan. The local flight originated from the Louisiana Delta Plantation at 1900. This accident was initially reported to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), on July 3, 2014, as an ultralight accident. The NTSB was contacted again on July 16, 2014, by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), stating that the aircraft was not an ultralight. The owner of the airplane informed the FAA inspector that the pilot of the airplane was taking aerial photographs of land that the owner wanted to purchase. According to a witness he heard what sounded like an ultralight airplane making a low pass. He looked and observed a small airplane make a turn and eventually lost sight of the airplane as it disappeared behind the trees, flying over Wallace Lake. The airplane came back up over the trees at which time he heard the engine of the airplane rev several times. It sounded like the pilot was increasing power to the engine and the witness perceived the airplane's attempt to climb. The airplane descended towards the trees and he heard a "boom" or "thud". The pilot was critically injured in the accident. He was subsequently transported to a local hospital and died about one hour later. An autopsy of the pilot was conducted on July 2, 2014, at the Louisiana Forensic Center, Youngsville, Louisiana. The pilot's death was attributed to multiple blunt force injuries and the autopsy report listed the specific injuries. Toxicology specimens were not collected for toxicological testing by the FAA's Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI), Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The closest official weather observation station was Hardy-Anders Field Natchez-Adams County Airport (KHEZ), Natchez, Mississippi, located 23 nautical miles southeast of the accident site. The elevation of the weather observation station was 272 feet mean sea level (msl). The routine aviation weather report (METAR)for KHEZ, issued at 1955, reported, wind 180 degrees at 3 knots, visibility 10 miles, sky condition clear, temperature 29 degrees Celsius (C), dew point temperature 23 degrees C, altimeter 30.00 inches. The pilot, age 56, did not hold any pilot certificate or airman medical certificate. The pilot's flight time and experience is not known and no logbooks were made available during the course of the investigation. The accident site was located in level terrain vegetated with deciduous trees and bushes. The accident site was at an elevation of 50 feet msl. The airplane came to rest directly beneath a tree. The wreckage included the fuselage, empennage, engine and propeller assemblies, and both wings. The FAA inspector who responded to the accident scene reported that the airplane appeared to have struck the tree before hitting the ground. The flight controls were continuous and the engine and propeller assemblies remained attached to the airframe. Both wings were bent and wrinkled, the fuselage was crushed, and the windscreen and instrument panel were broken. He stated that the propeller was damaged but remained attached to the engine. The inspector stated that there were no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane or the engine that would have precluded normal operation. The sheriff reported that there was fuel in the fuel tanks and that nothing was leaking from the fuel tank or airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: KOLB MARK III - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: UNKNOWN - Engines: Rotax reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: None - Departed: LA Delta Plant., LA - Destination: LA Delta Plant., LA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: fatal; seat: front; flight hours: 1 total, 1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: KHEZ, 23 nm away ## Docket (7 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 11, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89702. 405 KB in all. - Record of Telephone Conversation – FAA Inspector Benedetto (item 1, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426154&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Telephone%20Conversation%20%E2%80%93%20FAA%20Inspector%20Benedetto-Master.PDF - Record of Telephone Conversation – Witness (item 2, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426155&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Telephone%20Conversation%20%E2%80%93%20Witness-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Main Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of Catahoula Parish) (item 3, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426156&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Main%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Catahoula%20Parish)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Wing (Photo Courtesy of Catahoula Parish) (item 4, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426157&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Wing%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Catahoula%20Parish)-Master.PDF - Photo 3 - Empennage (Photo Courtesy of Catahoula Parish) (item 5, .PDF, 56 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426158&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%203%20-%20Empennage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Catahoula%20Parish)-Master.PDF - Photo 4 - Fuselage (Photo Courtesy of Catahoula Parish) (item 6, .PDF, 67 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426159&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%204%20-%20Fuselage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Catahoula%20Parish)-Master.PDF - Photo 5 - Empennage (Photo Courtesy of Catahoula Parish) (item 7, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40426160&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%205%20-%20Empennage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20Catahoula%20Parish)-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.