# NTSB NYC96LA153: Kolb Mark III, N695WM, Gowanda, NY, July 18, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 18, 1996, 12:40 local (16:40 UTC)
- Place: Gowanda, NY
- Coordinates: 42.459739, -78.929351 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4597&lon=-78.9294&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report February 1, 1997
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 39220
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC96LA153
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39220/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA153

## Probable cause

failure of the pilot to properly flare the airplane during the landing.

## Sequence of events

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

- Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown
  - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause)

## Analysis

The pilot was conducting a visual approach and landing to his private airstrip. He stated, 'On landing approach, I let the airspeed get too low, the aircraft hit the runway hard enough to damage the gear and fuselage.'  He also reported that there were no malfunctions with the airplane.

## Factual narrative

On July 18, 1996, about 1240 eastern daylight time, a Kolb Mark III, a homebuilt, N695WM, received minor damage during a hard landing at a private airstrip near Gowanda, New York.  The private pilot was seriously injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local flight.  No flight plan was filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

In the NTSB form 6120.1/2, the pilot stated:

"On landing approach, I let the airspeed get too low, the aircraft hit the runway hard enough to damage the gear and fuselage."

The pilot also reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions with the airplane, and that he had a total flight experience of 272 hours, of which 6 were in this make and model.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N695WM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N695WM-2013-04-29), registration cancelled 2013-04-29, S/N 496, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Kolb Company MARK III
- Registry model: [Twichell Herbert L KOLB MARK III](https://openairdocs.org/model/twichell-herbert-l-kolb-mark-iii) (registry code 05602UJ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 496
- Airframe hours: 6
- Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Minor damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Herbert L. Twichell
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: NONE
- Airport: NONE, Twichell, runway 27, 1,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 272 total, 6 in this make and model, 272 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 5 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft broken
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: BUF, 30 nm away

## 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 19960718047379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960718047379A), Jul 18, 1996: Gowanda, NY, Minor damage. (-16) Pilot attempting landing on 1500' strip over 50' tree line, allowed airspeed to decay. Aircraft landed hard, damaging landing gear. Pilot hospitalized…

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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