Stelly KOLB FIRESTAR II N2213U

Summary

On 1 June 1996 at about 20:30 local time, a Stelly KOLB FIRESTAR II registered N2213U, operated by Benjamin T. Masengil, was involved in an accident near Independence, Oregon, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

1 June 1996 at 20:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Independence, Oregon, United States

Nearest airport

Independence State (7S5)

Coordinates

44.8306, -123.2007

Aircraft

Stelly KOLB FIRESTAR II

Registration

N2213U

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Benjamin T. Masengil

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Lebanon

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA96LA110

Nobody was injured.

failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed during the initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and collision with the terrain. The aircraft's excessive gross weight was a related factor.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that just after takeoff, at an altitude of 40 to 50 feet above ground level, and at an indicated airspeed of 35 MPH, 'the nose and left wing pitched up and started to roll to the right.' The pilot attempted to counteract with 'forward left stick.' He stated that the nose then lowered, but the right roll continued. The aircraft impacted the ground right wing first. Information supplied with the pilot's accident report listed the airplane's maximum gross weight as 725 pounds and its stall speed as 30 MPH. The pilot supplied a gross weight computation with his accident report, indicating an actual aircraft gross weight of 727 pounds befpre takeoff. The pilot used a pilot weight for this computation which was 12 pounds lower than the weight given on his FAA medical certificate. The pilot indicated on his accident report that no mechanical malfunction or failure was involved.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.