- Date
- July 11, 2020, 11:26 local (15:26 UTC)
- Place
- Lutz, FL
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N38KFNew Kolb Kolb Flyer SS
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class
- Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA-FSDO
- FAA report
- 20200711011439A
- Case key
- 101579
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 flight instructor’s failure to maintain control of the airplane following an unannounced transfer of flight control during takeoff.
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
The purpose of the flight was to prepare the student pilot for a solo cross-country flight. After taxiing to the end of the runway, the flight instructor told the student to perform a short field takeoff. The student pilot described that there was a crowd at the airport café, and that the flight instructor stated, “let’s show them what aviation is all about.” The student pilot said that the takeoff roll was normal, and as he pulled back on the flight control stick and began to pitch for a best climb attitude, the airplane struggled to fly. The student pilot then felt back pressure on the control stick and noted that the flight instructor was pulling the stick back more but had not initiated a positive transfer of controls. The airplane then veered to the left, the flight instructor pitched the nose down, and the airplane struck a berm off the left side of the runway before it “cartwheeled” twice and came to rest. During the accident sequence the airplane’s left wing and empennage were substantially damaged. The student pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N38KF
- Reported as
- New Kolb Kolb Flyer SS (No Series)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- FK-1561
- Built
- 2008
- Engine
- Rotax 912ULS SERIES, 100 horsepower
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Destination
- PCM · Plant City, FL
- Airport
- X39 · Tampa North Aero Park, runway 14, 3,541 × 50 ft, asphalt
- Equipment
- Unknown
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 28
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Right
- Role
- Student pilot
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Student
- Seat
- Left
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 310° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 79 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.95 inHg
- Observed at
- KZPH, 11 nm away
- METAR
- KZPH 111515Z AUTO 31006KT 10SM CLR 31/26 A2995 RMK A02 LTG DSNT N T03060256
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 6, 2021, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 1.8 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.