# NTSB WPR11LA371: Carpenter Kolb Twinstar III, N3135J, Republic, WA, August 2, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 2, 2011, 08:45 local (15:45 UTC) - Place: Republic, WA - Coordinates: 48.718055, -118.656387 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.7181&lon=-118.6564&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report December 19, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 81401 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11LA371 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/81401/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81401 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11LA371 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Carpenter Kenton P KOLB TWINSTAR III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05618DJ), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Carpenter Kenton P KOLB TWINSTAR III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=05618DJ), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Carpenter Kenton P KOLB TWINSTAR III, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05618DJ), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Carpenter Kenton P KOLB TWINSTAR III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05618DJ), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Carpenter Kenton P KOLB TWINSTAR III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05618DJ), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Carpenter Kenton P KOLB TWINSTAR III, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05618DJ), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he had not flown for several years and had just received training from a certified flight instructor. During his first solo flight since the training, he was conducting touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. On the fourth landing, the airplane veered off the runway to the left side and ground-looped. After departing the runway, the airplane impacted a metal obstruction with the left landing gear, substantially damaging the tubular fuselage structure. ## Factual narrative On August 2, 2011, at 0845 Pacific daylight time, a Carpenter Kolb Twinstar III, N3135J, veered off the runway during landing at Ferry County Airport, Republic, Washington. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The recreational pilot, who was operating under sport pilot privileges, was not injured. The flight was being operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that he had not flown for several years. He had recently received training from a certified flight instructor, and was on his first solo flight since receiving the training. During this flight, the pilot was conducting touch-and-go takeoffs and landings. On the fourth landing on runway 35, the pilot reported that he tried to settle the tailwheel too soon and with too much speed. The airplane subsequently veered off the runway to the left side, and ground looped. After departing the runway, the airplane impacted a metal obstruction with the left landing gear. The tubular fuselage structure sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N3135J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N3135J-2019-05-04), registration cancelled 2019-05-04, S/N 3-12, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CARPENTER KOLB TWINSTAR III - Registry model: [Carpenter Kenton P KOLB TWINSTAR III](https://openairdocs.org/model/carpenter-kenton-p-kolb-twinstar-iii) (registry code 05618DJ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 3-12 - Airframe hours: 146 - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kenton Carpenter - Registered owner: Kenton Carpenter - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 1, 2011, 1 hours before - Departed: R49, Republic, WA - Destination: R49, Republic, WA - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: R49, Ferry County Airport, runway 35, 3,498 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; recreational; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 28, 2011; seat: left; flight hours: 198 total, 128 in this make and model, 134 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: KOMK, 37 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 20110802015379A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110802015379A), Aug 2, 2011: Carpenter Kenton P KOLB TWINSTAR III, Republic, WA, Substantial damage. During landing roll the pilot lost directional control of the aircraft. The aircraft ground looped and moved to the left side of the runway where the left main… ## Other investigations on N3135J (1) 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. - [NTSB CEN18FA267](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18FA267), Jul 15, 2018: Kolb Twinstar (N3135J), La Porte, TX, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during a visual approach for landing, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane's critical angle of attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall at an… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 3, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=81401. 900 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 416 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356878&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1. Fuselage Damage (Provided by Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 484 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40356434&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Fuselage%20Damage%20(Provided%20by%20Pilot)-Master.PDF 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.