# NTSB ERA13LA329: Krips Jack E JR Kolb MK III, N175TS, Fowler, NY, July 17, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 17, 2013, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Fowler, NY - Coordinates: 44.254165, -75.412223 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.2542&lon=-75.4122&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 30, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 87525 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13LA329 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/87525/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87525 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13LA329 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in a nose-down collision with water. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Krips Jack E JR KOLB MK III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05606L4), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Krips Jack E JR KOLB MK III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05606L4), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Krips Jack E JR KOLB MK III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05606L4), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Krips Jack E JR KOLB MK III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05606L4), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the experimental, amateur-built, amphibian airplane was seriously injured and could not recall the accident; however, he did remember that he intended to take off from the lake, circle it at 1,000 feet above ground level, and then land on the lake. A witness on the lake reported that the airplane was performing takeoffs and landings on the lake and that, during the approach for another landing, the nose dropped, and the airplane subsequently impacted the water. Examination of the wreckage confirmed flight control continuity and did not reveal any preimpact mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On July 17, 2013, about 1730 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Kolb MK III amphibian airplane, N175TS, operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged while landing on Sylvia Lake, Fowler, New York. The airline transport pilot was seriously injured. The personal flight was conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight that originated from Sylvia Lake about 1720.The pilot was seriously injured in the accident and could not recall the time period from about 2 hours prior to the accident, until 10 days after the accident. The pilot added that although he could not recall the accident, he remembered that his intention was to complete a local flight after not flying for about 2 weeks. The pilot intended to takeoff, circle the lake at 1,000 feet above ground level, then return and land on the lake. The pilot also reported a total flight experience of 12,000 hours; of which, 100 hours were in the same make and model as the accident airplane. The pilot had flown about 5 hours and 2 hours, all in the accident airplane, during the 90-day and 30-day periods preceding the accident, respectively. A witness, who was riding a personal watercraft on the lake, reported that the airplane was performing takeoffs and landings. During short final approach, as the airplane was nearing the southern shore, the nose lowered and the airplane impacted the water. The witness and another boat operator assisted the pilot out of the airplane. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The inspector was able to confirm flight control continuity and did not observe any preimpact mechanical malfunctions. The two-seat, high wing, experimental amateur-built airplane, serial number 8906, was assembled in 1998 and equipped with a Rotax 80-horsepower engine. The airplane's most recent annual condition inspection was completed in May, 2013. At that time, the airplane had accumulated 235 total hours of operation and the engine had accumulated 35 hours of operation since new. The airplane had flown an additional 5 hours, from the time of the most recent inspection, until the accident. The recorded weather at an airport located about 15 miles southwest of the accident site, at 1758, included wind from 250 degrees at 7 knots, sky clear, and visibility 9 miles. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N175TS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N175TS-2015-05-15), registration cancelled 2015-05-15, S/N 8906, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: KRIPS JACK E JR KOLB MK III - Registry model: [Krips Jack E JR KOLB MK III](https://openairdocs.org/model/krips-jack-e-jr-kolb-mk-iii) (registry code 05606L4) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 8906 - Airframe hours: 240 - Engines: Rotax 912 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kraker Lawrence L - Registered owner: Kraker Lawrence L - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 1, 2013, 5 hours before - Departed: Fowler, NY - Destination: Fowler, NY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: serious; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2005; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 12,000 total, 100 in this make and model, 4,000 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 7 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: GTB, 15 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 20130717017209A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130717017209A), Jul 17, 2013: Krips Jack E Jr KOLB MK III, Fowler, NY, Substantial damage. The pilot attempted a landing toward the beach at sylvia lake, reduced power abruptly, pitched nose down and banked left, hit the water with the left wing and… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 14, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=87525. 1.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 977 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408689&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 84 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408690&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Interview Summary (item 3, .PDF, 23 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408691&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Interview%20Summary-Master.PDF - Weather Report (item 4, .PDF, 12 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408695&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Report-Master.PDF - Photograph # 1: Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 546 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40408693&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%23%201%3A%20%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.