# NTSB ERA23LA026: Kolb Firestar II, N4878P, West Alexandria, OH, October 16, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 16, 2022, 09:20 local (13:20 UTC) - Place: West Alexandria, OH · Grass strip adjacent to cornfield - Coordinates: 39.75415, -84.4803 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7542&lon=-84.4803&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 - 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 - NTSB case key (mKey): 106157 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA026 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106157/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106157 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA026 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control after takeoff, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and collision with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Kolb FIRESTAR II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=059010O), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Kolb FIRESTAR II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=059010O), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [Kolb FIRESTAR II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=059010O), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Kolb FIRESTAR II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=059010O), [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: [Kolb FIRESTAR II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=059010O), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the purpose of the flight was to practice pattern work. After two uneventful takeoffs and landings, he attempted a third takeoff. After liftoff, the right wing dipped, and he corrected with left aileron. The right wing continued to drop, and he added additional left rudder and nose down elevator to avoid a stall. The airplane enterd an aerodynamic stall/spin and impacted a cornfield to the north of the runway. The pilot was seriously injured. An inspector with the Federal Aviation Administration examined the wreckage and determined that damage to the wings and fuselage was substantial. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4878P](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4878P), registered now, S/N F1067, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: KOLB FIRESTAR II - Registry model: [Kolb FIRESTAR II](https://openairdocs.org/model/kolb-firestar-ii) (registry code 059010O) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 503 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503-series) (registry code 55564, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: F1067 - Year built: 1997 - Airframe hours: 65 - Engines: Rotax 503 45 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 11, 2022, 8 hours before - Airport: runway 27, 1,048 × 77 ft, grass/turf - Equipment: Airframe parachute ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review August 19, 2022; seat: single; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 96 total, 8 in this make and model, 96 as pilot in command, 11 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,500 ft broken - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.99 inHg - Observed at: DAY, 15 nm away - METAR: METAR KDAY 161256Z 20006KT 10SM BKN075 10/01 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP155 T01000006 ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106157. 9.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14744596&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=1%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - NTSB memorandum for record - pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 114 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14744459&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=2%20Memorandum%20for%20Record%20508%20Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA statement confirming substantial damage (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 118 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14745111&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20508%20FAA%20Inspector%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Perry township oh police department report (item 4, PDF, 6 pages, 312 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14744786&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Perry%20Township%20PD%20Report_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 4.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14744606&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.