# NTSB ERA22LA312: Flightstar Flightstar II SC, N6116U, Russell, PA, July 14, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 14, 2022, 19:40 local (23:40 UTC) - Place: Russell, PA · wooded area in stream - Coordinates: 41.929796, -79.046059 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9298&lon=-79.0461&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 105478 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA22LA312 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105478/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105478 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA22LA312 ## Probable cause The pilot failed to maintain adequate airspeed and exceeded the airplane’s critical angle of attack while attempting to climb over trees, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of airplane control. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Flightstar FLIGHTSTAR II SC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=05901BT), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Flightstar FLIGHTSTAR II SC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05901BT), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Flightstar FLIGHTSTAR II SC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=05901BT), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Flightstar FLIGHTSTAR II SC, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05901BT), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The non-certificated pilot and his passenger lifted off about halfway down the 1,650 ft grass runway. During the initial climb, the airplane drifted to the left without gaining sufficient altitude to clear trees bordering the left side of the runway. As they approached the trees, the pilot increased the pitch attitude to clear them; in doing so, the airspeed degraded below the stall speed of 31 knots while simultaneously striking the tree branches. The airplane then descended and impacted terrain. A postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. Engine sounds recorded on a wing-mounted video camera revealed the engine was operating normally during the entire flight. The debris path and impact signatures were consistent with an aerodynamic stall. Based on the evidence, the pilot turned towards the trees after takeoff and made a decision to fly over them. However, in doing so he exceeded the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and loss of control. The investigation identified no issues that would have affected the airplane’s climb performance. ## Factual narrative On July 14, 2022, about 1940 eastern daylight time, a Flightstar II-SC, N6116U, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Shield Farm Airport (5PA6), Russell, Pennsylvania. The non-certificated pilot was seriously injured, and the passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot began the takeoff roll on runway 4, a 1,650 ft-long turf runway with an upward slope, and lifted off about the midpoint of the runway. Shortly after lifting off the airplane made a turn to the left towards the trees to the north-northwest of the runway, reaching a maximum altitude of about 15 ft above ground level. The airplane passed through the trees then disappeared. The passenger who was seated in the right seat stated, “We tried to make it over the trees, and we hit a tree. It didn’t climb like it normally does.” Recorded video from the wing-mounted camera showed the takeoff roll, climb, and turn with the pilot at the controls and adding left rudder. The airplane impacted the trees about 300 ft north-northwest of the runway, then descended into a creek bed at an elevation of about 1,230 ft, where it came to rest on its left side. The pilot, who was also the owner of the airplane, was seriously injured and unable to recall the events of the accident or provide a written report. The airplane was a two-seat, high-wing, single-engine kit airplane. Its empty weight was 465 lbs; it had a maximum speed of 83 knots with a stall speed of 31 knots. It was an experimental special light sport category airplane that required Federal Aviation Administration-mandated training and the issuance of a sport pilot certificate. Examination of the airframe and engine revealed that the airplane's left wing was separated, and the fuselage exhibited substantial damage on the pilot’s (left) side. Two of the three propeller blades were severed near the hub. Subsequent examination of the engine revealed no anomalies. The fuel tank contained about 3 gallons of fuel, and there was fuel in both carburetor bowls with no evidence of water or foreign debris. The four spark plugs showed no evidence of carbon or oil fouling. Flight control continuity was confirmed from all flight control surfaces. The external wing-mounted video recording was forwarded to the National Transportation Safety Board Vehicle Recorders Laboratory, Washington, DC, (for more information, see Video Study and Performance study in the public docket for this accident). A performance study was conducted using the data recovered from the video, which was mounted on the left wing and pointed down the wing into the cockpit. The video images recorded the GPS time, latitude, longitude, and altitude of the airplane which were recorded once a second. The airplane accelerated down the runway along the centerline when the track began deviating to the left and the altitude increased slightly at an airspeed of about 40 knots. (thestall speed was 36 mph/31 knots) The airplane tracked to the left while not gaining significant altitude and maintained airspeed for about 6 seconds. The airplane then gained 10 ft in about 3 seconds, which equated to about a 200 foot-per-minute climb. The airplane then began to slow and lost altitude. It descended and continued making a gradual left turn. As the ground speed dropped below 20 knots, the airplane then made a sharp left turn and descended into the trees and terrain. In addition, a video study estimated the wing’s pitch angle exceeded 20º shortly before the airplane impacted trees. The sound from the video was used to estimate the engine rpm; the study found that the engine operated at 6090 rpm, near the rated speed, throughout the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6116U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6116U), registered now, S/N 313, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: FLIGHTSTAR INC FLIGHTSTAR II SC (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Flightstar FLIGHTSTAR II SC](https://openairdocs.org/model/flightstar-flightstar-ii-sc) (registry code 059028Q) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [HKS 700E](https://openairdocs.org/engine/hks-700e) (registry code 33777, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 313 - Year built: 2001 - Engines: HKS 700E 56 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Airport: 5PA6, Shield Farm, runway 4, 1,650 × 100 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Video recording device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: serious; seat: left; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: BFD, 20 nm away - METAR: KBFD 142353Z AUTO 35006KT 10SM CLR 22/11 A3014 RMK AO2 SLP195 T02220106 10250 20222 53005 ## 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 20220714012319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220714012319A), Jul 14, 2022: Flightstar Inc FLIGHTSTAR II SC, Russell, PA, Substantial damage. On Thursday, July 14, 2022, an accident occurred involving [privacy data omitted], a Flightstar II Sc model aircraft certificated in the experimental light… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 28, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105478. 3.9 MB in all. - Record of conversation_FAA (item 1, PDF, 1 page, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16724016&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Record%20of%20Conversation_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation_pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 131 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16722808&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation_passenger (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 128 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16724217&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation_Passenger_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Video study (item 4, PDF, 13 pages, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15831172&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Russel_Video_Study_final-Rel.pdf - Aircraft performance study (item 5, PDF, 6 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15832353&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA22LA312PerformanceStudy-Rel.pdf - Memo for record_FAA e-mail summary and excerpt (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 142 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16722584&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20E-mail%20Excerpt%20and%20Summary_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array_accident site and damage (item 7, PDF, 4 pages, 777 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16723055&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photographs_Airplane%20Damage%20and%20Accident%20Site_N6116U-Rel.pdf - Onboard video recorder - specialist's factual report (item 8, PDF, 5 pages, 412 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16914297&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Onboard%20Video%20Recorder%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report_ERA22LA312-Rel.pdf - Attachment 1 to onboard video recorder - specialist's factual report_GPS data (item 9, CSV, 2 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16914307&FileExtension=csv&FileName=Attachment%201%20to%20Onboard%20Video%20Recorder%20-%20Specialist%27s%20Factual%20Report_GPS%20Data-Rel.csv 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.