# NTSB ERA09LA450: Stump Bradley Kolb, N2456, Calhoun, TN, August 8, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 8, 2009, 10:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Calhoun, TN - Coordinates: 35.271667, -84.721664 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.2717&lon=-84.7217&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Maneuvering-aerobatics: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report January 7, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74476 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA450 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74476/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74476 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA450 ## Probable cause The pilot’s decision to perform aerobatics at a low altitude and his failure to maintain control of the airplane while performing aerobatics. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Stump Bradley KOLB M3X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=056230P), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Stump Bradley KOLB M3X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=056230P), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Stump Bradley KOLB M3X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=056230P), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Aircraft capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Stump Bradley KOLB M3X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000/cases.md?model=056230P), [All aircraft, 57 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Maneuvering-aerobatics: Low altitude operation/event](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220); cases with it: [Stump Bradley KOLB M3X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md?model=056230P), [All aircraft, 780 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/220/sequence.md) - [Maneuvering-aerobatics: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Stump Bradley KOLB M3X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=056230P), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Stump Bradley KOLB M3X, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056230P), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to a witness, he observed the airplane climb straight up and then do a “cartwheel” and come straight down before leveling out. He watched as the airplane did this maneuver two more times. On the third time the airplane went straight up and flipped over backwards, and at about 200 feet above ground level started to spin before colliding with the ground. The airplane was not certificated for aerobatics. Examination of the airframe, engine and system components revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction. Toxicological testing detected a prescription painkiller, a prescription anti-nausea medication, and an over-the-counter antihistamine in specimens from the pilot. No blood was available, so it was not possible to estimate when the substances might have most recently been used or whether the pilot may have been impaired by one or more of the medications at the time of the accident. The pilot had neither noted the use of any medications nor the presence of any conditions requiring the use of medications at the time of his most recent application for a Federal Aviation Administration medical certificate. ## Factual narrative On August 8, 2009, at 1015 central daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Bradley Stump Kolb M3X, N2456, was substantially damaged following a loss of control in-flight and ground impact in Calhoun, Tennessee. The certificated private pilot, who was the owner of the airplane, and a passenger were killed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from Hardwick Field (HDI), Cleveland, Tennessee, at an undetermined time. According to a witness, who heard the airplane passing by, looked up and observed it climb straight up and then do a “cartwheel” and come straight down then level out. The pilot did this maneuver three times, however on the third time the airplane went straight up and “flipped over backwards, at about 200 feet above the ground the airplane started spinning, and then collided with the ground”. The witness contacted 911 and reported the accident. The pilot, age 53, held a private pilot certificate, with airplane single-engine land ratings. In addition, he held a third-class medical certificate issued on October 17, 2007, with no restrictions. The pilot’s most recent medical certificate indicated that he had accumulated 85 hours of flight time. The pilot’s logbook was not recovered for examination. The two-seat, high wing, fixed tricycle gear, serial number (S/N) M3X6-4-0084, was manufactured in 2008. It was powered by a Hirth rear mounted 270-hp engine and equipped with a fixed pitch composite propeller. Review of the airplane’s logbook revealed that the airplane’s last conditional inspection was performed on March 25, 2009, and had accumulated a total time of 27.2 hours. A review of the airplane’s operating limitations, item 14 states that “This aircraft is prohibited from aerobatic flight, that is, an intentional maneuver involving an abrupt change in the aircraft’s attitude, an abnormal attitude, or abnormal acceleration not necessary for normal flight.” Examination of the wreckage by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector found that the airplane had impacted trees and the ground at near vertical nose down attitude substantially damaging the engine, cockpit, wings, empennage and stabilizers. Examination of the airframe, engine and system components revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction. An autopsy was performed on the pilot on August 10, 2009, by the University of Tennessee Medical Center, University Pathologists, P.C., in Knoxville, Tennessee. The autopsy findings included, “Multiple blunt force injuries.” Forensic toxicology was performed on specimens from the pilot by the FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The toxicology report indicated that the carbon monoxide and cyanide tests were not performed. No ethanol was detected in vitreous, but Diphenhydramine, Normeperidine and Promethazine was detected in the liver andspleen. The pilot’s most recent application for 3rd class FAA Airman Medical Certificate, dated October 17, 2007, noted no medications and no conditions requiring the use of medications. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2456](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2456-2017-07-06), registration cancelled 2017-07-06, S/N M3X6-4-00084, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Stump Bradley Kolb (M3X) - Registry model: [Stump Bradley KOLB M3X](https://openairdocs.org/model/stump-bradley-kolb-m3x) (registry code 056230P) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Hirth 3500 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/hirth-3500-series) (registry code 33734, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: M3X6-4-00084 - Airframe hours: 42 - Engines: Hirth 3500 SER 270 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Bradley Stump - Registered owner: Bradley Stump - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, March 28, 2009, 15 hours before - Departed: HDI, Cleveland, TN - Destination: HDI, Cleveland, TN ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 85 total, 42 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 4 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.23 inHg - Observed at: CHA, 28 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 20090808016439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090808016439A), Aug 8, 2009: Stumpb KOLBM3X, Calhoun, TN, Destroyed, 2 fatal. (-23) Witness observed aircraft doing several return to target (wing over) maneuvers below 1000 feet AGL on the third maneuver the aircraft went over on its… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 7, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74476. 522 KB in all. - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports; Aircraft Logbook (item 1, .PDF, 121 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336764&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports;%20Aircraft%20Logbook-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports; Aircraft Operating Limitations. (item 2, .PDF, 95 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336765&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports;%20Aircraft%20Operating%20Limitations.-Master.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports; Aircraft Weight and Balance. (item 3, .PDF, 43 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336766&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports;%20Aircraft%20Weight%20and%20Balance.-Redacted.PDF - Reports from Local Agencies; Police Report (item 4, .PDF, 178 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336769&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Local%20Agencies;%20Police%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 5, .PDF, 35 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336770&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Toxicological Report (item 6, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40336771&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Toxicological%20Report-Redacted.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.