# NTSB MIA99LA054: Dean Kolb Firestar 1, N643FS, Davenport, FL, December 24, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 24, 1998, 10:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Davenport, FL - Coordinates: 28.159955, -81.600303 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.1600&lon=-81.6003&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45533 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA99LA054 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45533/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA99LA054 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to perform weight and balance calculations, resulting in a loss of directional control on initial takeoff climb due to an aft center of gravity flight condition, in flight collision with trees and terrain. Contributing to the accident was the pilot lack of total and recent experience (0 flight hours) in the Kolb Firestar 1 airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft weight and balance - not performed, pilot in command (cause) - lack of recent experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, descent - uncontrolled - object - tree(s) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - ground ## Analysis The pilot did not calculate weight and balance information for the planned flight. This resulted in an aft center of gravity condition. The pilot experienced a loss of directional control on initial takeoff climb which resulted in an in-flight collision with trees and terrain. The pilot stated he had not flown in 3 years. He indicated on the NTSB accident report that he had not logged any flight time in the accident airplane. ## Factual narrative On December 24, 1998, at about 1045 eastern standard time, a Dean, Kolb Firestar 1, N643FS, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, experienced a loss of directional control on climb out from the Gore Airport, Davenport, Florida, and collided with trees. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private pilot reported no injuries. The flight originated about 1 minute before the accident. The pilot stated he has not flown in about 3 years, and that he did not have a current medical certificate. He completed two high speed taxis up and down the runway before departing for takeoff to the east. Once he became airborne the airplane started veering to the right. He lost directional control, and the airplane collided with trees and terrain. The pilot stated examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction. The pilot told the FAA that he had experienced a substantial weight loss since he last flew the airplane. According to weight and balance information produced from the aircraft blue prints, the pilot calculated that he was outside the aft center of gravity limit at takeoff, which resulted in the loss of directional control. Review of the pilot's total flight time entered in the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report revealed that he had not recorded as logged any flight time in the Kolb Firestar 1 experimental airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N643FS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N643FS-2001-11-08), registration cancelled 2001-11-08, S/N FS643, built 1998 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Dean KOLB FIRESTAR 1 (KOLB FIRES) - Registry model: [Dean William N KOLB FIRESTAR 1](https://openairdocs.org/model/dean-william-n-kolb-firestar-1) (registry code 05606QL) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: FS643 - Engines: Rotax 503 50 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William N. Dean - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, December 24, 1998 - Departed: 4FL9 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: unknown, expired; seat: center; flight hours: 139 total, 73 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 13 knots - Visibility: 13 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: GIF ## 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 19981224033889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981224033889A), Dec 24, 1998: Amtr FIRESTAR, Davenport, FL, Substantial damage. Pilot was departing east ot west when the acft veered to the right, the pilot could not bank to the left, and the acft struck a tree and spun into another… 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.