Stall / Spin · NTSB WPR20LA118

Kolb FIRESTAR 2 — La Center, WA

1 fatal Low altitude
DateApril 6, 2020
LocationLa Center, WA
AircraftKolb FIRESTAR 2 (amateur-built)
Purpose of flightPersonal
ConditionsDay · Visual Meteorological Cond
Phase / occurrenceManeuvering-low-alt flying Aerodynamic stall/spin
Pilot age58
Pilot total timeUnknown
Time in typeUnknown
Fatalities1

Probable cause

A loss of control for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.

NTSB findings

  • Not determined-Not determined-(general)-(general)-Unknown/Not determined
  • Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot

What happened

A witness observed the airplane maneuvering about 200 to 300 ft above the floor of a valley. The airplane was headed southwest then turned south flying above the tree line. The witness reported seeing the airplane make a sharp left turn and that it then stalled and collided with terrain in a near-vertical attitude. Impact damage precluded determination of the preimpact integrity of the airplane’s structure or its control systems. The airplane wreckage was sold before investigators were able to perform an examination.

An editorial "what led to it / how to avoid it" analysis for this accident is generated separately and will appear here.

View the official NTSB docket →