# NTSB MIA98LA129: Krips Kolb Firestar, Dallas, GA, April 11, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 11, 1998, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Dallas, GA - Coordinates: 33.909557, -84.82936 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.9096&lon=-84.8294&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report December 8, 1998 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 38495 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA98LA129 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38495/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA98LA129 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed for the existing wind conditions. ## Analysis While turning from base leg to final leg on approach to landing at a grass strip the aircraft encountered wind gusts. The aircraft descended and the pilot could not stop the descent prior to the aircraft colliding with trees. The homebuilt aircraft was not registered with the FAA and the pilot did not hold any FAA pilot or medical certificates. ## Factual narrative On April 11, 1998, about 1645 eastern daylight time, an unregistered, homebuilt, Kolb Firestart airplane, collided with trees during approach to land at a private strip near Dallas, Georgia, while on a Title 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was destroyed and the non-rated pilot received serious injuries. The flight originated from the private strip minutes before the accident. The pilot stated he took off from an 800-foot grass strip. He flew around for about 8 minutes and then made a left pattern to return to the strip for a landing to the north. While turning from base leg to final leg he encountered a strong tail wind or downdraft. The aircraft began to sink and he applied full power, attempting to climb. The aircraft struck the top of tree at the south end of the runway. The aircraft was not registered with the Federal Aviation Administration. The aircraft builder had reserved a registration number for the aircraft; however, he did not register the aircraft with the FAA after it was built. The pilot did not hold any FAA pilot or medical certificates. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - airspeed - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - object - tree(s) ## Aircraft - Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Krips KOLB FIRESTAR (KOLB FIRES) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 596 - Airframe hours: 160 - Engines: Rotax 503 DC 52 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ben Methvin - Last inspection: Annual, October 27, 1997, 80 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 44; seat: center; flight hours: 1,013 total, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ATL, 30 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.