# NTSB CEN21LA446: Cole Paul B Challenger I, N630SC, Higginsville, MO, September 18, 2021 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: September 18, 2021, 13:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Higginsville, MO · Private farm strip about 2 miles northwest of Higginsville, MO. - Coordinates: 39.072477, -93.717016 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.0725&lon=-93.7170&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Kansas City FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 103947 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN21LA446 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/103947/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103947 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN21LA446 ## Probable cause The non-certificated pilot's exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack during a low-level turn, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cole Paul B CHALLENGER I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05901VD), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Cole Paul B CHALLENGER I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=05901VD), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cole Paul B CHALLENGER I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=05901VD), [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-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220); cases with it: [Cole Paul B CHALLENGER I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=05901VD), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Cole Paul B CHALLENGER I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05901VD), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Cole Paul B CHALLENGER I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05901VD), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Cole Paul B CHALLENGER I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05901VD), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Cole Paul B CHALLENGER I, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=05901VD), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The non-certificated pilot reported that shortly after departing from the airstrip, he decided to maneuver the airplane back toward the airstrip. The airplane was 200 ft agl and the airspeed was about 50 mph when the pilot initiated a left turn and applied “hard right rudder.” The pilot reported that the airplane’s left wing suddenly dropped straight down and the airplane “apparently stalled.” The airplane impacted the ground and came to rest in a ditch. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe and engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N630SC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N630SC-2022-02-15), registration cancelled 2022-02-15, S/N 1196-CW-0626, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: COLE PAUL B CHALLENGER I (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Cole Paul B CHALLENGER I](https://openairdocs.org/model/cole-paul-b-challenger-i) (registry code 05901VD) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 503 DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-dcdi) (registry code 55566, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1196-CW-0626 - Year built: 1997 - Airframe hours: 431 - Engines: Rotax Aircraft Engines 503 UL DCDI 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: None - Airport: None, Private - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 19; injuries: serious; seat: single; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 60 total, 60 in this make and model, 60 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KMHL, 22 nm away - METAR: KMHL 181815Z AUTO 03004KT 10SM CLR 30/17 A3015 RMK AO2 ## 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 20210918015879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20210918015879A), Sep 18, 2021: Cole Paul B CHALLENGER I, Higginsville, MO, Destroyed. Witnesses reported that the aircraft made a low, descending pass over the field. Upon turning back toward the field, the aircraft began a steep left bank. It… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 5, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=103947. 14.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 5.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12880454&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120_1%20Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 8.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12947624&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Accident%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Additional documents (item 3, PDF, 7 pages, 901 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=12881352&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Additional%20Documents%20Redacted-Rel.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.