# NTSB CEN23LA209: Kolb Firestar SS, N994TA, Lodi, WI, May 29, 2023

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: May 29, 2023, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Lodi, WI
- Coordinates: 43.326679, -89.520585 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.3267&lon=-89.5206&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA-FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 192259
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA209
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192259/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192259
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA209

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control during takeoff.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Kolb FIRESTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=059011J), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Kolb FIRESTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=059011J), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Kolb FIRESTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=059011J), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Kolb FIRESTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=059011J), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Ground collision](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200); cases with it: [Kolb FIRESTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md?model=059011J), [All aircraft, 618 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/200/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Kolb FIRESTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=059011J), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during takeoff from a grass runway, a sudden wind gust from the rear caused the airplane to weathervane to the right and lose lift. The pilot was unable to correct for the gust before the airplane impacted the ground and nosed over. Both wings and the empennage were substantially damage during the nose over. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. At the time of the accident, the pilot was taking off on runway 27 with wind from 150° at 6 knots.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N994TA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N994TA), registered now, S/N 456, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: KOLB Firestar SS
- Registry model: [Kolb FIRESTAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/kolb-firestar) (registry code 059011J) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 447](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-447) (registry code 55576, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 456
- Year built: 2007
- Airframe hours: 108
- Engines: Hirth 3203 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, April 28, 2023
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 9WN5, Lodi Lakeland, runway 27, 1,900 × 105 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 85; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: basicmed; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,226 total, 108 in this make and model, 1,200 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observed at: KDLL, 16 nm away
- METAR: KDLL 291555Z AUTO 15006KT 10SM CLR 25/05 A3006 RMK AO2 T02520054

## 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 20230529011159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230529011159A), May 29, 2023: Kolb FIRESTAR, Lodi, WI, Substantial damage. Pilot departed from the Lodi lakeland airport in Lodi, WI runway after departure the aircraft maintained low pitch attitude with full back pressure applied.…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192259. 4.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15696368&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 812 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15695676&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.

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