Klotz KOLB MARK III N6268A

Summary

On 21 August 1999 at about 23:40 local time, a Klotz KOLB MARK III registered N6268A was involved in an accident near Scott, Ohio, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

21 August 1999 at 23:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Scott, Ohio, United States

Coordinates

41.3298, -83.2897

Aircraft

Klotz KOLB MARK III

Registration

N6268A

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Kansas → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC99LA208

2 people died.

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.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.