# NTSB WPR12LA214: Marley Kolb Firestar II, N9173T, Cedar Fort, UT, May 17, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 17, 2012, 11:50 local (17:50 UTC) - Place: Cedar Fort, UT - Coordinates: 40.357223, -112.017776 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.3572&lon=-112.0178&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report July 7, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 83677 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR12LA214 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83677/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83677 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR12LA214 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control while on approach for landing in gusting wind conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Marley Thomas Jay KOLB FIRESTAR II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05601O8), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Marley Thomas Jay KOLB FIRESTAR II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=05601O8), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Marley Thomas Jay KOLB FIRESTAR II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05601O8), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Marley Thomas Jay KOLB FIRESTAR II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05601O8), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Marley Thomas Jay KOLB FIRESTAR II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05601O8), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis A witness reported observing the airplane start to wobble while approaching the airport to land. She stated that it was a windy day and that a sudden wind gust caused the airplane to tip on its side while in the air; thunderstorms with microbursts were reported in the area at the time of the accident. She added that it appeared that the pilot attempted to level off the airplane but was unsuccessful. The airplane subsequently impacted open terrain near the runway and rolled several times before coming to rest inverted. A postaccident examination of the airplane confirmed primary flight control continuity. ## Factual narrative On May 17, 2012, about 1150 mountain daylight time, an experimental Marley Kolb Firestarter II airplane, N9173T, impacted the ground in an open field about 100 yards north of the Cedar Valley Airport (UT10), Cedar Fort, Utah. The sport pilot/owner, the sole occupant, operated the airplane under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot received serious injuries; the airplane came to rest inverted and was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight departed from an unknown location. A witness reported that she observed the airplane start to wobble during its landing sequence. She stated it was a windy day and that a sudden gust of wind caused the airplane to tip on its side while in the air. It appeared that the pilot attempted to level off the airplane but was unsuccessful. The airplane subsequently impacted the open terrain near the runway and rolled several times before coming to rest inverted. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector who responded to the accident site was able to establish flight control continuity. He reported local thunderstorms with microburst in the area. The pilot did not provide a completed NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report Form 6120.1 nor a written statement to the investigator. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9173T](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9173T-2020-02-27), registration cancelled 2020-02-27, S/N FS-512, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MARLEY KOLB FIRESTAR II - Registry model: [Marley Thomas Jay KOLB FIRESTAR II](https://openairdocs.org/model/marley-thomas-jay-kolb-firestar-ii) (registry code 05601O8) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 503ULDCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-503uldcdi) (registry code 55568, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: FS-512 - Engines: reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kurt Imig - Registered owner: Kurt Imig - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Destination: UT10, Cedar Fort, UT - Airport: UT10, Cedar Valley Airport, runway 35, 5,100 × 100 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: serious; sport pilot; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: front ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 9 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: PVU, 15 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 20120517007999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120517007999A), May 17, 2012: Marley Thomas Jay KOLB FIRESTAR II, Cedar Fort, UT, Substantial damage. On approach to land at Cedar Valley Airport, the pilot was attempting to land in very high winds with strong gusts for this light aircraft. He lost control and… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 2, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83677. 2.1 MB in all. - FAA Inspector’s Email (item 1, .PDF, 47 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427251&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%E2%80%99s%20Email-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 30 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427252&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 - Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427253&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Wreckage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 936 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40427254&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20-%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.