# NTSB CHI95LA323: Haugen Kolb Firestar II, N42996, Souris, ND, September 17, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 17, 1995, 17:10 local (22:10 UTC) - Place: Souris, ND - Coordinates: 48.910659, -100.679687 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.9107&lon=-100.6797&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 3, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10033 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI95LA323 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10033/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI95LA323 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain control of the ultralight vehicle. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The two-seat homebuilt ultralight was observed making a right turn at an altitude of about 100 to 200 feet above the ground. A witness reported the airplane '...dropped nose first, like it was in slow motion.' According to another witness, the airplane collided with the ground while in a '...sharp descent....' The on-scene investigation revealed no preimpact airframe or flight control failure. There was a pilot and two small children on the ultralight in a tandem seating configuration. ## Factual narrative On September 17, 1995, at 1710 central daylight time (cdt), a Haugen-Kolb Firestar II, N42996, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed during a collision with the ground while maneuvering about 100 to 200 feet above the ground. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot was fatally injured. One passenger received serious injuries, a second passenger received minor injuries. The flight departed a restricted landing area near Souris, North Dakota, at 1700 cdt. Witnesses reported observing the airplane flying at a low altitude and begin a right turn. A witness said N42996 "...dropped nose first, like it was in slow motion." Another witness said he observed the airplane in a "...sharp descent..." before it collided with the ground. Both passengers were children who were seated in the rear seat. According to the NTSB Form 6120.1/2 submitted by the pilot's family, he had a total time of 154.6 hours. The form showed he had a total time of 37.7 hours in the accident airplane. The form shows he had 8.6 hours in the accident airplane during the last 24 hours. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) records showed the pilot had received his private pilot certificate on December 7, 1994. His FAA Third Class Medical Certificate was issued on October 10, 1994. The homebuilt airplane had two seats in a tandem configuration. Records for the airplane were not made available for inspection by the family of the pilot. The electric hobbs meter found in the wreckage showed 25.7 hours on it. An FAA Principal Maintenance Inspector (PMI) conducted the on-scene investigation. The PMI reported he observed no evidence of airframe failure before its collision with the ground. He said he established flight control continuity for all the control surfaces. He reported the airplane had not been issued a Certificate of Airworthiness (C of A), but it did have a Certificate of Registration issued on December 20, 1994. An application for the C of A was received by the PMI's office on March 1, 1995. The pilot's autopsy was conducted by Pathology and Imaging Consultants, P.C., of Minot, North Dakota, on September 18, 1995. The FAA's Civil Aeromedical Institute in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, conducted a toxicological examination on specimens provided by the pathologist. Their report showed negative results. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N42996](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N42996-1997-03-25), registration cancelled 1997-03-25, S/N F1036 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: HAUGEN KOLB FIRESTAR II (KOLB FIRES) - Registry model: [Haugen Blaine KOLB KXP](https://openairdocs.org/model/haugen-blaine-kolb-kxp) (registry code 05626NC) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: F1036 - Airframe hours: 26 - Engines: ROTAX 503 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Blaine A. Haugen - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 20, 1994, 26 hours before - Departed: PVT ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 155 total, 38 in this make and model, 113 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 9 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 9 knots - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: MDT, 46 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 19950917029769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950917029769A), Sep 17, 1995: Amtr KOLBMK3, Souris, ND, Destroyed, 1 fatal. Lost control steep low altitude turn. Stalled. No airworthiness certificate. Two children rear seat,tandem plane. (-23) the private pilot departed his farm… 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.