# NTSB NYC00LA027: Kolb Firestar, London, KY, October 16, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 16, 1999, 09:00 local (13:00 UTC)
- Place: London, KY
- Coordinates: 37.120727, -84.079139 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1207&lon=-84.0791&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report June 21, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 47795
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA027
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47795/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA027

## Probable cause

The student pilot's inability to maintain control of the airplane after inadvertently allowing it to become airborne. A factor in the accident was his lack of total aviation experience.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi
  - lift-off - inadvertent, pilot in command
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - aborted
  - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff - aborted
  - terrain condition - runway

## Analysis

The student pilot was conducting a high speed taxi run, on a runway, when the airplane unexpectedly became airborne, and climbed to approximately 25 feet agl before stalling.  The airplane impacted the ground nose low, right wing-tip first.  The student pilot thinks that after the airplane became airborne, he retarded the throttle to idle.  He made no mention of any failures or malfunctions with either the airframe or the engine.

## Factual narrative

On October 16, 1999, about 0900 eastern daylight time, an unregistered Kolb Firestar, was substantially damage when it impacted terrain after becoming airborne while conducting high speed taxi operations at the London Airport, London, Kentucky.  The student pilot was not injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the airport manager, the student pilot was conducting a high speed taxi run on runway 23 when the airplane became airborne.  The airplane reached approximately 25 feet agl.  The pitch angle decreased, and the airplane impacted the ground nose low, right wing-tip first.  The airplane came to rest approximately 150 feet to the side of runway 23.

According to the student pilot, he arrived at the airport about 0800.  He then preflighted the airplane, and noticed no anomalies.  Once onboard, he started the engine, and allowed it to warm up before taxing.  He never intended to fly the airplane, just practice high speed taxiing.  The student pilot made a couple of runs on the taxiway then decided to attempt one down the runway.  Once on the runway, he advanced the throttle, and the airplane accelerated.  After a short ground run, the airplane pitched up.  From this point until after the impact, the pilot could not recall in detail what happen.  After the accident sequence was completed, the pilot remembers seeing the throttle at the engine idle position.  He was not sure, but thinks that after the airplane became airborne, he retarded the throttle to idle.  He added that because the airplane was in a nose high attitude it stalled once the throttle was reduced.

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Kolb Company FIRESTAR
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: F1288
- Airframe hours: 7
- Engines: Rotax 503 53 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: William G. Fortney
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: LOZ, KY
- Airport: LOZ, London Corbin, runway 23, 6,000 × 150 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; flight hours: 23 total

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: LOZ

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.

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