History of Flight
On April 6, 2020, at about 0920 Pacific daylight time, a Kolb Firestar 2, registration N90KL, was substantially damaged when it collided with terrain near Daybreak Airport (WA46) in La Center, Washington. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, sustained fatal injuries. The flight was conducted as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
A witness living near the accident site reported that she routinely observed aircraft maneuvering around Daybreak Airport. On the day of the accident, she was walking and saw an airplane pass overhead at an estimated 200 to 300 ft above the valley floor. The airplane was headed southwest, then turned south while maneuvering above the tree line. It made a sharp left turn, after which the witness lost sight of it as it descended below the tree line. She subsequently heard a loud boom and went to call 911.
Personnel Information
The pilot's flight logbooks were not located. He kept the airplane at Grove Field Airport in Camas, Washington. Federal Aviation Administration records indicate that the pilot was issued a private pilot’s license in June 2018.
Aircraft Information
The kit-built airplane was registered to the pilot in August 2018, though he was not the builder. The structure consisted primarily of aluminum tubing covered with fabric skin. It was equipped with a 50-horsepower Rotax 503 series engine mounted in an over-wing pusher configuration. No maintenance records were found during the investigation.
Meteorological Information
At 0853, an automated weather observation at an airport located about 14 miles south of the accident site reported wind from 080° at 3 knots, visibility 10 miles, few clouds at 2,000 ft, temperature 8°C, dew point 4°C, and an altimeter setting of 29.90 inches of mercury. A Clark County Sheriff sergeant reported that the wind was about 5 knots at the time of the accident.
Wreckage and Impact Information
The accident site was located about 525 ft northeast of WA46. The airplane came to rest in a near-vertical attitude. Ground scar evidence indicated no horizontal travel during or after ground impact. Throttle and flight control continuity could not be verified. Impact damage precluded determination of the pre-accident structural integrity or control system condition. The airplane was sold before investigators could perform an examination. The responding sergeant reported smelling fuel at the site.