History of Flight
On June 30, 2014, about 2000 central daylight time, an unregistered Kolb Mark III light sport airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain under unknown circumstances near Jonesville, Louisiana. The non-certificated pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was owned by a private individual and operated under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and the flight operated without a flight plan. The local flight originated from the Louisiana Delta Plantation at 1900. The accident was initially reported to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) on July 3, 2014, as an ultralight accident. The NTSB was contacted again on July 16, 2014, by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), stating that the aircraft was not an ultralight. The owner informed the FAA inspector that the pilot was taking aerial photographs of land the owner wanted to purchase. A witness reported hearing what sounded like an ultralight making a low pass, observing a small airplane turn, then losing sight behind trees over Wallace Lake. The airplane reappeared, and the witness heard the engine rev several times, perceiving an attempt to climb before the airplane descended toward trees, followed by a "boom" or "thud."
Personnel Information
The pilot, age 56, did not hold any pilot certificate or airman medical certificate. His flight time and experience are not known, and no logbooks were made available during the investigation.
Aircraft Information
The accident airplane, a Kolb Mark III, was not registered with the FAA. The two-seat airplane met the requirements of a light sport airplane. The FAA inspector reported no maintenance logbooks, registration paperwork, or airworthiness certificate were present. The owner believed that if only one person was on board, registration was not required. The light sport airplane did not meet the definition of an ultralight and was required to be registered.
Meteorological Information
The closest official weather observation station was Hardy-Anders Field Natchez-Adams County Airport (KHEZ), Natchez, Mississippi, 23 nautical miles southeast of the accident site, elevation 272 feet msl. The METAR issued at 1955 reported wind 180 degrees at 3 knots, visibility 10 miles, clear sky, temperature 29°C, dew point 23°C, altimeter 30.00 inches.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The accident site was level terrain vegetated with deciduous trees and bushes, elevation 50 feet msl. The airplane came to rest directly beneath a tree. The wreckage included the fuselage, empennage, engine and propeller assemblies, and both wings. The FAA inspector reported that the airplane appeared to have struck a tree before hitting the ground. Flight controls were continuous; engine and propeller assemblies remained attached. Both wings were bent and wrinkled, the fuselage was crushed, and the windscreen and instrument panel were broken. The propeller was damaged but attached. The inspector stated no preimpact mechanical anomalies would have precluded normal operation. The sheriff reported fuel in the tanks with no leaks.
Medical and Pathological Information
The pilot was critically injured and transported to a local hospital, where he died about one hour later. An autopsy on July 2, 2014, at the Louisiana Forensic Center attributed death to multiple blunt force injuries. Toxicology specimens were not collected for testing by the FAA's Civil Aerospace Medical Institute.