# NTSB ERA09CA255: Martin Edward H Fire Star II, N582EF, Church Hill, TN, April 18, 2009

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: April 18, 2009, 12:44 local (16:44 UTC)
- Place: Church Hill, TN
- Coordinates: 36.509166, -82.681663
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5092&lon=-82.6817&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report July 28, 2009
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 73695
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA255
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73695/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA255

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed to avoid an aerodynamic stall during final approach.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Martin Edward H FIRE STAR II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=056177R), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Martin Edward H FIRE STAR II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056177R), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Martin Edward H FIRE STAR II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=056177R), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Martin Edward H FIRE STAR II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=056177R), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Martin Edward H FIRE STAR II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056177R), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

During final approach to a turf runway, the pilot of the amateur-built airplane noted that he was too high and the airspeed was 60 to 65 mph. He reduced engine power to descend, and was then distracted while viewing wildlife in a field below him. When the pilot looked back at the airspeed indicator, it displayed 40 mph. The airplane then "stalled" and the pilot felt the left wing drop. The airplane subsequently struck a fence and the nose impacted the ground. The airplane flipped over and came to rest short of the runway. The pilot sustained serious injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. A witness familiar with the accident airplane reported that its stall speed was in the "mid-30s." A weather observation taken 10 minutes after the accident, at an airport 14 nautical miles away, reported calm winds; however, the pilot recalled wind gusting from his left and from behind after impact. A witness recalled that it was sunny with thermal updrafts and downdrafts. The pilot had over 177 hours of flight experience in the accident airplane.

## Factual narrative

During final approach to a turf runway, the pilot of the amateur-built airplane noted that he was too high and the airspeed was 60 to 65 mph. He reduced engine power to descend, and was then distracted while viewing wildlife in a field below him. When the pilot looked back at the airspeed indicator, it displayed 40 mph. The airplane then "stalled" and the pilot felt the left wing drop. The airplane subsequently struck a fence and the nose impacted the ground. The airplane flipped over and came to rest short of the runway. The pilot sustained serious injuries and the airplane was substantially damaged. A witness familiar with the accident airplane reported that its stall speed was in the "mid-30s." A weather observation taken 10 minutes after the accident, at an airport 14 nautical miles away, reported calm winds; however, the pilot recalled wind gusting from his left and from behind after impact. A witness recalled that it was sunny with thermal updrafts and downdrafts. The pilot had over 177 hours of flight experience in the accident airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N582EF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N582EF), registered now, S/N EHM-1, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MARTIN EDWARD H FIRE STAR II
- Registry model: [Martin Edward H FIRE STAR II](https://openairdocs.org/model/martin-edward-h-fire-star-ii) (registry code 056177R) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: EHM-1
- Engines: Rotax reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: RVN, Rogersville, TN
- Destination: 77TN, Church Hill, TN
- Airport: 77TN, Darnell's Field, runway 35, 1,500 × 25 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 69; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 1,909 total, 177 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.22 inHg
- Observed at: TRI, 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 20090418006419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090418006419A), Apr 18, 2009: Amtr FIRESTARII, Church Hill, TN, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot departed hks around 1220 direct to 77TN with arrival at 1240 hours local. Pilot was in a tandem flight of two, following another kolb firestar.…

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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