# NTSB NYC99LA208: Klotz Kolb Mark III, N6268A, Scott, OH, August 21, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 21, 1999, 19:40 local (23:40 UTC) - Place: Scott, OH - Coordinates: 41.32975, -83.289695 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3297&lon=-83.2897&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 2 fatal - Status: Completed, report July 26, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47207 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC99LA208 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47207/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA208 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed, which resulted in a stall, after he experienced a loss of lift due to an improperly installed gap seal. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, cruise - miscellaneous,airframe - not secured (contributing factor) - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - inadvertent - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - crop ## Analysis The homebuilt airplane departed from an airstrip heading in a southerly direction, and was observed turning to the left to a northwest heading. The airplane then descended into a bean field in a nose low attitude. The airplane's gap seal, an airfoil shaped piece of plexi-glass used to fill the gap which remained in-between the wings when they were assembled, was found about 1/2-mile southwest of the wreckage. According to a representative of the airplane kit manufacturer, testing with the gap seal removed indicated that performance was reduced due to the 'resulting loss of lift.' The representative further added 'Some pilots would also forget to properly secure the gap seal before flying, which would be held by 2 springs to the fuselage and a center hold down catch.' Examination of the gap seal revealed that the rear left-hand spring was still attached and not stretched or damaged. The right-hand spring was not recovered. The center hold down catch was also examined and it did not display any damage. ## Factual narrative On August 21, 1999, about 1940 Eastern Daylight Time, a homebuilt Kolb Mark III, N6268A, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain near Scott, Ohio. The certificated private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to a witness, the pilot had departed from an airstrip located on the pilot's property, and circled to the southeast. When the airplane leveled off, the throttle decreased, which the witness described as a "normal" sound; however, he noted that the "plane was not too high." A second witness heard the airplane flying to the south "at about tree top level," then circled to the left to a northwest heading. The witness recalled that the engine sounded like it was throttling back the entire time that the airplane was turning. The airplane disappeared from the view of the witness, which was followed by the sound of "plastic tearing, and breaking of corn stalks." A third witness, who noticed the airplane after it passed overhead, stated that the airplane made a "weird sound" and descended nose first toward the ground. The airplane came to rest in a bean field. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector did not reveal any pre-impact malfunctions with the airframe or engine. A resident, located about 1/2 mile southwest of the wreckage, found a part of the airplane in a bean field, and turned it over to the local authorities. A FAA inspector later identified the part as a gap seal. The gap seal was an airfoil shaped piece of plexi-glass used to fill the gap, which remained in-between the wings when they were assembled. According to a representative of the airplane kit manufacturer, testing had been accomplished with the gap seal removed from the airplane. The test results indicated that performance was reduced due to the "resulting loss of lift." The representative further added, "Some pilots would also forget to properly secure the gap seal before flying, which would be held by 2 springs to the fuselage and a center hold down catch." A FAA inspector examined the gap seal after the accident. It was observed that the rear left-hand spring was still attached to the gap seal. The spring was not stretched or damaged. The right-hand spring was not recovered after the accident. The center hold down catch was also examined and it did not display any damage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6268A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6268A-2002-04-25), registration cancelled 2002-04-25, S/N M3-210, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Klotz KOLB MARK III (KOLB MARK) - Registry model: [Klotz Emerson L KOLB MARK 3](https://openairdocs.org/model/klotz-emerson-l-kolb-mark-3) (registry code 05602RR) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: M3-210 - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Emerson L. Klotz - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: NONE, KANSAS, OH ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 241 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 80° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 13,000 ft broken - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: FDY, 22 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 19990821013139A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990821013139A), Aug 21, 1999: Amtr KOLBMK3, Scott, OH, Substantial damage, 2 fatal. Acft took off from a grass strip and struck the ground at a steep angle approximately 5-10 minutes later, the 2 POB suffered fatal injuries, the acft was… 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.