# NTSB NYC06CA181: Carlson Sparrow, New Galilee, PA, July 10, 2006

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: July 9, 2006, 20:15 local (Jul 10, 2006, 00:15 UTC)
- Place: New Galilee, PA
- Coordinates: 40.746944, -80.413612
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7469&lon=-80.4136&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report December 28, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Allegheny
- NTSB case key (mKey): 64167
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC06CA181
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/64167/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC06CA181

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and impact with terrain. A factor in the accident was the partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined (contributing factor)
- Forced landing, descent - emergency
- In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command

## Analysis

According to the pilot, the unregistered, amateur-built Carlson Aircraft Sparrow experienced a partial loss of engine power approximately 40 feet above ground level, during the initial climb. The non-certificated pilot elected to return to the airport, and during a turn toward the runway, the airplane "stalled." The airplane impacted the ground in a right wing low attitude, resulting in substantial damage. An examination of the airframe and engine by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no mechanical abnormalities.

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot, the unregistered, amateur-built Carlson Aircraft Sparrow experienced a partial loss of engine power approximately 40 feet above ground level, during the initial climb. The non-certificated pilot elected to return to the airport, and during a turn toward the runway, the airplane "stalled." The airplane impacted the ground in a right wing low attitude, resulting in substantial damage. An examination of the airframe and engine by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed no mechanical abnormalities.

## Aircraft

- Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Carlson Aircraft Sparrow
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: SP 112 PBK
- Airframe hours: 890
- Engines: Rotax 503 45 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, April 1, 2006
- Departed: 1PA5, New Galilee, PA
- Airport: 1PA5, Beaver Creek Ultralight Fltprk, runway 30, 1,400 × 130 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; injuries: serious; seat: single; flight hours: 1,200 total, 632 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observed at: KBVI, 2 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.

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