Kolb KOLB MARK III N457A
30 January 2011 · Rutherfordton, North Carolina, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 30 January 2011 at about 19:45 local time, a Kolb KOLB MARK III registered N457A, operated by Ronald McKinney, was involved in an accident near Rutherfordton, North Carolina, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. 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 19:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Rutherfordton, North Carolina, United States
- Nearest airport
- Rutherfordton (FQD)
- Coordinates
- 35.4236, -81.9344
- Aircraft
- Kolb KOLB MARK III
- Registration
- N457A
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Ronald McKinney
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Rutherfordton → Rutherfordton
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- ERA11CA129
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering at low altitude resulting in a stall/spin and ground impact.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot reported that he was practicing takeoffs and landings at his home airport. As he made a left turn over a hangar, a crosswind increased, and the airplane banked too steeply. The left wing subsequently stalled and the airplane was too low for the pilot to recover. The airplane impacted the ground near a hangar. A witness stated that shortly after takeoff, the airplane returned and made a low pass at the airport. He observed the airplane then fly low over the pilot's restaurant and subsequently stall/spin at low altitude. During the stall, the witness heard the engine noise increase to full power. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. The recorded weather at the accident airport, about the time of the accident, included clear skies and calm wind.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Kolb KOLB accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 Jun 2019 | Kolb KOLB TWINSTAR TSP 1 | Hector, Minnesota, United States | - | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Apr 2011 | Aviat A-1B | Burgaw, North Carolina, United States | Michael J Barri | No injuries | - |
| 26 Feb 2011 | Liberty LIBERTY XL-2 | Burlington, North Carolina, United States | TAA Flight Training | No injuries | - |
| 2 Dec 2011 | Nuse George F1H ROCKET | Caroleen, North Carolina, United States | Supair, LLC | No injuries | - |
| 1 Dec 2011 | Bell 206L-3 | Wingate, North Carolina, United States | U S Helicopters Inc | No injuries | - |
| 14 Jun 2011 | Grumman American Avn AA-5A | Linden, North Carolina, United States | Guyton Joseph W | Minor injuries | - |
| 5 Oct 2011 | Aviat A-1 | Moyock, North Carolina, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |