# NTSB DFW07LA026: Keesler Pulsar, N115SE, Alvarado, TX, November 23, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 23, 2006, 15:50 local (21:50 UTC) - Place: Alvarado, TX - Coordinates: 32.373332, -97.215553 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.3733&lon=-97.2156&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report March 26, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Fort Worth FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 64911 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW07LA026 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64911/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW07LA026 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper handling of the airplane while manuevering at a low altitude, which resulted in an inadvertant stall. ## Analysis The 573.6-hour private pilot made several high-speed, low altitude passes over a private airstrip (aligned north and south) in his single-engine experimental airplane followed by "a rapid pull-up" to gain altitude. A witness reported that the pilot brought the airplane to a "near stall" attitude before he would lower the nose and level the wings. The witness did not observe the accident, but grew concerned when the airplane failed to return. A search of the area surrounding the airstrip revealed that the airplane came to rest in a stand of 40-foot-tall trees southeast of the private airstrip on a heading of approximately 360 degrees. Impact marks on the trees became progressively lower on the trunks of these trees and ended where the spinner collided with an oak tree, a total distance of approximately 22 feet. A portion of the tail section remained in the trees. Examination of the airplane and engine reveled there were no mechanical deficiencies. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On November 23, 2006, approximately 1550 central standard time, an amateur built Keesler Pulsar single-engine airplane, N115SE, was destroyed when it collided with trees shortly after take off from the Luscombe Acres Airport (6XS2), near Alvarado, Texas. The private pilot and the passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. According to the pilot's son-in-law, the pilot was providing airplane rides to family members and friends, who were visiting for the Thanksgiving Holiday. The pilot had flown earlier that morning and began giving rides later in the afternoon. The pilot gave three rides prior to the accident flight, all of which, were conducted over a north-and-south aligned private airstrip that was under construction on the son-in-law's property. The son-in-law stated that he observed the pilot making high-speed, low altitude passes over the airstrip, at an altitude of 100 to 150 feet above the ground, followed by "a rapid pull-up" to gain altitude. On one of the last passes he observed, he said the airplane "was in a near stall attitude" before the nose of the airplane was lowered and the wings were leveled. The witness did not observe the accident, but grew concerned when the airplane failed to return. PERSONNEL INFORMATION The pilot held a private pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land. A review of his flight logbook revealed that the last entry was made on August 19, 2006. At that time, he had accrued a total of 573.6 hours, of which, 118.9 hours were in the accident airplane. His last FAA third class medical certificate was issued on May 27, 2003, and it would have expired on May 31, 2005. AIRCRAFT INFORMATION The airplane was a two-seat high-performance airplane made of composite structure. The last annual inspection of the airplane was conducted on November 22, 2006, at an aircraft total time of 383.7 hours. The 115 horsepower Rotax 914 engine had accrued 266.1 hours at the time of the accident. METEOROLOGICAL INFORMATION Weather reported at Fort Worth Spinks Airport, Fort Worth, Texas, located approximately 14 miles north of the accident site, at 1545, reported wind from 170 degrees at 15 knots gusting to 20 knots, visibility 10 statute miles, clear skies, temperature 77 degrees Fahrenheit, and dewpoint 50 degrees Fahrenheit. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION An on-scene examination of the airplane was conducted on December 6, 2006. All major components of the airplane were accounted for at the site. The airplane came to rest in a stand of 40-foot-tall trees southeast of the private airstrip on a heading of approximately 360 degrees. Impact marks on the trees became progressively lower on the trunks of these trees and ended where the spinner collided with an oak tree, a total distance of approximately 22 feet. A portion of the tail section remained in the trees. The main fuselage and both wings sustained impact damage. Several broken tree limbs/branches were found at the base of the trees near the initial impact point. The ends of these branches exhibited flat, angular cuts and black paint transfer marks. In addition, one of the branches exhibited numerous slash marks consistent with the dimensions of the propeller blades. Examination of the airplane revealed that the flaps appeared to be in the retracted position. Examination of the fuel system revealed that both fuel tanks were breached, but some fuel remained in the right wing tank. In addition, there was some residual fuel in the fuel lines between the manifold and the engine. The manifold and both carburetors were removed and disassembled. Fuel was found in both components. All fuel screens and air filters were absent of debris. There was a pool of oil next to the engine and oil was also found in the sump. All four spark plugs were removed and appeared normal. The engine was rotated via a propeller blade and continuity was established to the starter. When the engine was rotated, compression was established on each cylinder. Examination of both propeller blades (one blade had separated from the hub) revealed that they were straight and undamaged. No mechanical deficiencies were noted with the engine. MEDICAL AND PATHOLOGICAL INFORMATION A toxicological examination was conducted by the FAA's Accident Research Laboratory, in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The results were negative for all items tested. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION The wreckage of the airplane was released to a representative of the pilot's family on December 6, 2006. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - aircraft handling - improper, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - altitude - low, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N115SE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N115SE-2007-03-01), registration cancelled 2007-03-01, S/N 115, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Keesler Pulsar - Registry model: [Keesler Patrick E PULSAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/keesler-patrick-e-pulsar) (registry code 056164A) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 115 - Airframe hours: 383.7 - Engines: Rotax 914 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ronald Connolly - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2006 - Departed: 6XS2, Alvarado, TX - Airport: NONE, Private ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 73; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 573 total, 118 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: FWS, 14 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 20061123024929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20061123024929A), Nov 23, 2006: Amtr PULSAR, Alvarado, TX, Destroyed, 2 fatal. (-23) Witness stated that the pilot [privacy data omitted] had made several low passes over a private airstrip that was under construction prior to the… 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.