Loss of Control in Flight · NTSB CEN14LA379
KOLB MARK III — Jonesville, LA
| Date | July 1, 2014 |
| Location | Jonesville, LA |
| Aircraft | KOLB MARK III (amateur-built) |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Uncontrolled descent Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) |
| Pilot age | 56 |
| Pilot total time | 1 hrs · Student / very low time |
| Time in type | 1 hrs |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
The noncertificated pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees.
NTSB findings
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Altitude-Not attained/maintained - C
- Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Monitoring environment-Pilot - C
- Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Identification/recognition-Pilot - C
- Environmental issues-Physical environment-Object/animal/substance-Tree(s)-Awareness of condition - C
- Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Experience/qualifications-Qualification/certification-Pilot - C
What happened
The owner of the light-sport airplane reported that the noncertificated pilot was taking aerial photographs during the accident flight. A witness reported observing the airplane flying low in a turn and then losing sight of the airplane as it disappeared behind trees. He regained sight of the airplane as it climbed back up above the trees and then heard the engine rev several times before the airplane disappeared behind the trees again. Witness marks and impact damage were consistent with the airplane striking a treetop before colliding with the ground. An examination of the airplane, engine, and related systems revealed no preimpact anomalies.