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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

June 25, 1995 · Kolb Twinstar · N7165L

Abingdon, VA

Overview

Report Status
Final with probable cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
June 25, 1995
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Abingdon, VA
Aircraft
Kolb Twinstar
Tail Number
N7165L
Operator
Fricker Roy N
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
BFO95LA072

THE STUDENT PILOT HAD BEEN DOING TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS WHEN THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST POWER DURING THE TURN TO BASE LEG AT AN ALTITUDE OF 300 FEET AGL. ON FINAL, THE AIRPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE TOP OF THE LOCALIZER ANTENNA LOCATED AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. ALTHOUGH NO MECHANICAL REASON COULD BE FOUND FOR THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER, THE STUDENT PILOT STATED THAT ONE OF THE CHARACTERISTICS OF A TWO CYCLE ENGINE IS TO 'LOADUP' AFTER AN EXTENDED TIME AT IDLE POWER. THE LAST CONDITON INSPECTION WAS COMPLETED IN 1991. THE STUDENT PILOT'S AIRMAN CLASS 3 MEDICAL CERTIFICATE/STUDENT PILOT CERTIFICATE HAD EXPIRED AND HAD NOT BEEN ENDORSED FOR SOLO FLIGHT.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER DUE TO UNDETERMINED REASONS. FACTORS FOUND TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS ACCIDENT WERE THE CONDITION INSPECTION WAS OVERDUE AND THE INADEQUATE TRAINING RECEIVED BY THE STUDENT PILOT OWNER/BUILDER.

Full Narrative

On June 25, 1995, at 1930 eastern daylight time, a Kolb Twinstar, N7165L, collided with a localizer antenna during an emergency landing at Virginia Highland Airport, Abingdon, Virginia. The student pilot was not injured and the aircraft was destroyed. The aircraft was being operated as a personal flight under 14 CFR Part 91 when the accident occurred. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan had been filed. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, the student pilot had taken off at 0910 from Virginia Highland Airport and had been doing touch and go landings when the two cycle engine lost power. The pilot stated he had just completed his turn to base leg at an altitude of approximately 300 feet, when the engine lost power. The pilot stated that one of the characteristics of a two cycle engine was to "loadup" after an extended time at idle power. The pilot decided he had sufficient altitude and would utilize the same traffic pattern to the runway. He thought he had made it to the runway when the airplane hit the top of the localizer antenna and flipped. The student pilot's airman class 3 medical certificate/student pilot certificate expired in August 1994, and had no signature for solo flight. The student pilot's logbook had no endorsements for dual instruction received. The student pilot stated, "he had not received dual instruction, but, had two flights with a friend in an airplane just like mine." The pilot did not know if the airplane had an engine out best glide airspeed. The experimental aircraft was assembled by the owner/builder student pilot without assistance or verification of the work completed. The last annual condition inspection was recorded on 8/10/91.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time19:30 EDT
Nearest AirportVirginia Highlands Arpt (0nm)
Runway6
Runway Length4470 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftKolb Twinstar
Tail NumberN7165L
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
OperatorFricker Roy N
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsRotax · 503 · Reciprocating · 46
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 51 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind170° @ 4 kt
Visibility7 sm
CeilingBroken clouds 12000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point70 F
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time01:50
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data