# NTSB NYC96LA139: Titan Tornado, Richland, NY, July 2, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 2, 1996, 07:07 local (11:07 UTC) - Place: Richland, NY - Coordinates: 43.569355, -75.970794 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5694&lon=-75.9708&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report May 30, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39207 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC96LA139 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39207/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA139 ## Probable cause failure of the student pilot to maintain adequate airspeed, during an apparent go-around, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent collision with the terrain. Factors relating to the accident were: the pilot's lack of certification, and inadequate certification/approval of the aircraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, go-around (vfr) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - lack of certification, pilot in command (contributing factor) - inadequate certification/approval,aircraft, manufacturer (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The unregistered Titan Tornado, flown by a student pilot/co-owner, was observed on an approach to a private grass strip. A witness reported that as the airplane crossed over a hedge row, the nosed pitched up, and the airplane began to climb. At about 150 feet, the nose of the airplane dropped, and the airplane descended and struck the ground at a 45 degree nose down angle. The airplane had been assembled and flown for about 80 hours by Titan Aircraft, before it was purchased by the pilot as an ultralight with a 10 gallon fuel tank and without an airworthiness certificate. Examination of the airplane revealed no preimpact failure of the airframe or engine. No maintenance records were available for the airplane. The student pilot had received his student pilot certificate in October 1994, and had received about 10 hours of dual instruction. He did not solo, and no record of recent flight experience was available. A purchase agreement revealed that the airplane had been sold as a 'single place, ready to fly, used aircraft as is.' ## Factual narrative On July 2, 1996, at 0707 eastern daylight time, an unregistered Titan Tornado, was destroyed when it impacted the ground while on approach to a private grass strip near Richland, New York. The certificated student pilot was fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at the Richland Airport, about 0630. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. During a telephone interview, a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector stated that the student pilot/owner departed the Richland Airport to fly to his co-owner's farm, about 4 miles from the airport. Witnesses stated to the FAA Inspector that they observed the airplane circle the co-owner's cut grass strip and start an approach. One witness reported that when the airplane flew over a hedge row, the nosed pitched and the airplane climbed to about 150 feet. The nose of the airplane was then observed to drop, and the airplane descended and struck the ground at a 45 degree nose down angle. The co-owner stated to the FAA Inspector that he and the student pilot (SP) had purchased the airplane from Titan Aircraft, the manufacturer of airplane kits. The airplane had been assembled and flown for about 80 hours by Titan, before it was purchased by the pilots. The co-owner stated that it had been purchased as an ultralight. It had been equipped with a 10 gallon fuel tank, and without an airworthiness certificate. Examination of the airplane revealed no pre-impact failure of the airframe of engine. A certified flight instructor stated to the FAA Inspector that the SP had been issued his SP certificate during October 1994, and had received about 10 hours of dual flight instruction. The SP had not flown with the flight instructor since 1994, and had not soloed. There were no maintenance records available for the airplane. A review of the purchase agreement provided by Titan Aircraft revealed that the airplane was sold as a "single place, ready to fly, used aircraft as is." ## Aircraft - Registration: UNREG (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Titan Aircraft TORNADO - Category: Airplane - Serial number: T924470HK001 - Airframe hours: 100 - Engines: Rotax 503 reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: James R. Holmes - Departed: 1NY3, NY - Destination: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; toxicology performed; flight hours: 10 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F 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.