Kelly F1D N42KK

Summary

On 2 November 2007 at about 22:00 local time, a Kelly F1D registered N42KK, operated by Patrick J. Gleason, was involved in an accident near Reno, Nevada, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

2 November 2007 at 22:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Reno, Nevada, United States

Nearest airport

Reno/Stead Airport (4SD)

Coordinates

39.6675, -119.8761

Aircraft

Kelly F1D

Registration

N42KK

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Patrick J. Gleason

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Flight Test

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Reno → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA08LA017

1 person died.

The pilot's loss of airplane control while performing intentional approach to stall maneuvers. Contributing to the accident was the inadvertent entry of the airplane into a spin.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot departed on his first flight in the experimental amateur-built airplane. Before departure, the pilot asked a person, who also became an eyewitness to the accident, to monitor the radio and document information regarding the test flight transmitted by the pilot. During the preflight briefing, the pilot told the witness that part of the flight would include doing an "approach to stall." The pilot topped off the 5-gallon fuel tank and departed for an estimated 30-minute flight. The witness observed the airplane maneuvering near the airport, and the pilot made several transmissions to him. The witness said the airplane entered a high downwind (approximately 2,000-3,000 feet above the ground). He observed the airplane slow to a nose high attitude while maintaining altitude. Then, while maintaining the same pitch attitude, a constant loss of altitude occurred with the wings level for approximately 3 to 4 seconds. He heard no increase in engine power nor was the airplane's pitch angle reduced. There appeared to be an abrupt entry into a right spin, and 6 to 8 turns were observed with a nearly vertical impact with the ground. Post accident examination of the engine revealed no abnormalities that would have precluded normal operation. No logbooks documenting airplane maintenance were found, and no pilot flight logbooks were found.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.