# NTSB ERA09LA531: Daniel L Patrick Kolb Mark, N208NS, Mystic, CT, September 20, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 20, 2009, 10:40 local (14:40 UTC) - Place: Mystic, CT - Coordinates: 41.436668, -71.925277 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.4367&lon=-71.9253&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 22, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 74779 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09LA531 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74779/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74779 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09LA531 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during final approach, resulting in an inadvertent stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of total flight experience. ## 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: [Patrick Daniel L KOLB MARK III EXTRA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05628NA), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Patrick Daniel L KOLB MARK III EXTRA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/cases.md?model=05628NA), [All aircraft, 126 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031015/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) (defining event); cases with it: [Patrick Daniel L KOLB MARK III EXTRA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05628NA), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Patrick Daniel L KOLB MARK III EXTRA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05628NA), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the sport pilot, he was test flying the experimental airplane in the traffic pattern. While on final approach, with a flap setting of 20 degrees, he increased the flaps to 40 degrees. At that time, the airplane began to stall and he tried to increase engine power. He stated that when the airplane stalled, his airspeed was too slow and he was too low. The left main landing gear contacted the top of some trees and then impacted the ground. The pilot stated that he had about 4 hours in the accident airplane and that he was still test flying it. His total time in make and model was approximately 9 hours and his total pilot time was about 60 hours. ## Factual narrative On September 20, 2009, at 1040 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Kolb Mark III Extra, N208NS, collided with the tops of trees while on final approach to Wychwood Field Airport (CT48), Mystic, Connecticut. The certificated sport pilot, who was the owner of the airplane, received minor injuries and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight was operated as a personal flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. According to the pilot, he was test flying the airplane in the traffic pattern. While on final approach, with a flap setting of 20 degrees, he increased the flaps to 40 degrees. At that time the airplane began to stall and he tried to increase engine power. He stated that when the airplane stalled, his airspeed was too slow and he was too low. The left wheel hit the top of some trees and then went down. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the airplane was observed about 100 feet into the woods in a nose low attitude. The left wing spar was snapped, the tail boom was broken into two pieces, and there was impact damage to the right wing. Damage to the engine consisted of the carburetors, exhaust and engine mounts. The airplane was certificated and issued a special airworthiness certificate on August 6, 2009. The pilot stated that he had about 4 hours in this airplane and that he was still test flying it. His total time in this make and model was approximately 9 hours and his total pilot time was about 60 hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N208NS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N208NS-2009-12-08), registration cancelled 2009-12-08, S/N M3X-8-3-00096, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Daniel L Patrick Kolb Mark (111 Extra) - Registry model: [Patrick Daniel L KOLB MARK III EXTRA](https://openairdocs.org/model/patrick-daniel-l-kolb-mark-iii-extra) (registry code 05628NA) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [HKS 700E](https://openairdocs.org/engine/hks-700e) (registry code 33777, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: M3X-8-3-00096 - Airframe hours: 4 - Engines: HKS 700 60 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Daniel L Patrick - Registered owner: Daniel L Patrick - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 6, 2009, 4 hours before - Departed: CT48, Mystic, CT - Destination: CT48, Mystic, CT - Airport: CT48, Wychwood Field ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: minor; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: left; flight hours: 60 total, 9 in this make and model, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.36 inHg - Observed at: WST, 7 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 20090920049659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090920049659A), Sep 20, 2009: Patrick Dan KOLB MK III, North Stoningto, CT, Substantial damage. The following statement is from the police report and from a telephone conversation with the pilot: at approximately 10:30 or 10:45, the pilot was flying and… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 17, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74779. 5.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 846 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326256&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies; FAA Inspectors Statement (item 2, .PDF, 51 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326254&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies;%20FAA%20Inspectors%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Other Pertinent Forms and Reports; Condition Inspection (item 3, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326255&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Other%20Pertinent%20Forms%20and%20Reports;%20Condition%20Inspection-Redacted.PDF - FAA Digital Photo; Aircraft in nose down attitude (item 4, .PDF, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326257&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Digital%20Photo;%20Aircraft%20in%20nose%20down%20attitude-Master.PDF - FAA Digital Photo; Front of Aircraft looking aft (item 5, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326258&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Digital%20Photo;%20Front%20of%20Aircraft%20looking%20aft-Master.PDF - FAA Digital Photo; Left wing damage (item 6, .PDF, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40326259&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Digital%20Photo;%20Left%20wing%20damage-Master.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.