# NTSB FTW03LA068: Barber Glasair, N3885J, Conroe, TX, December 28, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 28, 2002, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Conroe, TX - Coordinates: 30.316667, -95.33361 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.3167&lon=-95.3336&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report June 2, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 56251 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW03LA068 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/56251/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW03LA068 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall and a subsequent loss of control. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, maneuvering - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall/spin - inadvertent, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis Witnesses near the accident site reported that the airplane collided with a light pole in a residential backyard after the airplane "spun nose down into the ground." The FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported that the amateur-built airplane, which was mostly built out of fiberglass and composite materials, "was totally consumed by the post-impact fire." The inspector added that all of the major aircraft components were located within a 20-foot radius from the initial point of impact. At the time of his last medical examination on April 20, 2001, the pilot had accumulated a total of 1,230 hours. No discrepancies were found with the airframe or the engine that could have prevented normal flight operations. ## Factual narrative On December 28, 2002, at 1330 central standard time, a Barber Glasair homebuilt aircraft, N3885J, was destroyed upon collision with terrain following a loss of control near Conroe, Texas. The non-instrument rated private pilot and his passenger were fatally injured. The airplane, which was built in 1986 by Hugh Barber, had been owned and operated by the pilot since June 23, 1993. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 flight. No flight plan was filed for the local flight, which was reported to have originated from the Montgomery County Airport (CXO), near Conroe, Texas, at 1310. The purpose of the flight nor the intentions of the occupants could not be determined during the investigation. Local authorities were notified of the accident by a local resident via a 911 call. The accident site was located near State Highway 105, approximately 9.7 miles east of Conroe. Witnesses near the accident site reported that the airplane collided with a light pole in a residential backyard after the airplane "spun nose down into the ground." A post-impact fire destroyed the airplane. The fire was extinguished by the local fire department before it had a chance to spread into a mobile home and adjacent residences. There were no reported injuries to anyone in the mobile home or on the ground. The FAA inspector, who responded to the accident site, reported that the amateur-built airplane, which was mostly built out of fiberglass and composite materials, "was totally consumed by the post-impact fire." The inspector reported that the airplane "snapped some powerlines and knocked a light pole before coming to rest in a backyard." The inspector added that all of the major aircraft components were located within a 20-foot radius from the initial point of impact. The aircraft was powered by a 150-horsepower Lycoming O-320-E2A engine, serial number L-23305-27A. According to data provided by the FAA, the pilot was issued his private pilot certificate on July 25, 1985. According to the data provided by the pilot at the time of his last medical examination on April 20, 2001, the pilot had accumulated a total of 1,230 hours as of that date. The pilot was issued a third class medical certificate with a restriction which required him to wear corrective lenses while operating an aircraft. The nearest weather reporting station to the accident site was the Montgomery County Airport (CXO), located approximately 12 miles west of the accident site. At 1453 the reported winds were from 180 degrees at 7 knots, clear skies with a visibility of 10 statute miles. The temperature was 19 degrees Celsius, and the dewpoint was 2 degrees, with an altimeter setting of 30.29 inches of Mercury. Based on a field elevation of 436 feet, the investigator-in-charge calculated the density altitude at 436 feet at the time of the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3885J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3885J-2005-12-02), registration cancelled 2005-12-02, S/N 200, built 1986 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Barber Glasair - Registry model: [Barber Hugh GLASAIR](https://openairdocs.org/model/barber-hugh-glasair) (registry code 05655LK) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 200 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Fire: On-Ground - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Louis R. Tolbert - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: CXO, Conroe, TX ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review March 10, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 1,230 total, 500 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: KCXO, 12 nm away 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.