Pilot Debrief

Kolb FIRESTAR 2 near La Center, WA — 2020-04-06

Final reportWPR20LA118
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Date
2020-04-06
Location
La Center, WA, USA
Airport
WA46
Aircraft
Kolb FIRESTAR 2
Registration
N90KL
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Maneuvering

Probable cause

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

NTSB narrative

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.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have avoided sharp left turn that led to loss of control.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 4 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents4

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