- Date
- October 28, 2016, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- West Middlesex, PA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- UNREGKolb Fire FLY
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 20, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- Case key
- 94309
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The noncertificated pilot’s loss of airplane control while maneuvering at a low altitude.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
According to the noncertificated pilot of the unregistered airplane, he was flying at a low altitude when he encountered a wind gust. He then lost control of the airplane, and it subsequently impacted trees, which resulted in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
According to the non-certificated pilot of the unregistered airplane, he was flying at a low altitude when he encountered a gust of wind. He then lost control of the airplane, and it subsequently impacted trees, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. The pilot reported that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- UNREG
- Reported as
- Kolb Fire FLY
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 042A021
- Engine
- Rotax 503, 50 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- None
- Departed
- PA21 · West Middlesex, PA
- Destination
- PA21 · West Middlesex, PA
- Airport
- PA21 · West Middlesex
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 73
- Injuries
- Minor
- Seat
- Single
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 50 total · 50 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 52 °F, dew point 37 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.25 inHg
- Observed at
- KYNG, 9 nm away
Docket · 4
The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 30, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.6 MB in all.