Thompson KOLB TWINSTAR MARK N408K
8 September 2010 · Elkhart, Indiana, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 8 September 2010 at about 23:58 local time, a Thompson KOLB TWINSTAR MARK registered N408K, operated by Donald S. Thompson, was involved in an accident near Elkhart, Indiana, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 23:58
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Elkhart, Indiana, United States
- Nearest airport
- Elkhart Municipal Airport (EKM)
- Coordinates
- 41.7078, -85.9997
- Aircraft
- Thompson KOLB TWINSTAR MARK
- Registration
- N408K
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Donald S. Thompson
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Flight Test
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Elkhart → Elkhart
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Dusk
- NTSB number
- CEN10LA526
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing approach.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The accident occurred during the amateur-built airplane's first flight. According to the pilot, the purpose of the flight was to determine the stall speed and handling characteristics of the airplane during the flight. After departure, the pilot circled the airport at an altitude of about 3,000 feet, and then requested a return for landing with air traffic control. A video of the accident showed the airplane in a steep descent toward a grassy area between the runway and taxiway. As the airplane neared the ground, the nose of the airplane oscillated pitching up, down, and up again prior to the nose dropping and the airplane impacting the ground. A witness reported the engine sounded normal during the flight and while the airplane was on final approach. A postaccident examination of the airframe did not reveal any failure or malfunction that would have resulted in the loss of control.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Oct 2010 | Piper PA-32R-300 | Richmond, Indiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 8 Mar 2010 | Byler JDT MINI-MAX 1100R | New Paris, Indiana, United States | Byler Mark A | No injuries | - |
| 6 Mar 2010 | Piper PA-28-140 | Martinsville, Indiana, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 7 Dec 2010 | Cessna 177B | Seymour, Indiana, United States | Green Gregory E | No injuries | - |
| 3 May 2010 | Jetprop Dlx Piper PA46 | New Albany, Indiana, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 27 Jul 2010 | Wolseley Motors SE5-A | Seymour, Indiana, United States | Phillip E. Krueger | Minor injuries | - |