Overview
On January 11, 2021, at 1230 eastern standard time, an unregistered Kolb Firestar KXP was substantially damaged in an accident near Vineland, New Jersey. The pilot, the sole occupant, was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a personal flight under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91.
Witness Accounts
A witness who had flown with the accident pilot from his residence to Vineland-Downstown Airport (28N) reported that after landing, the pilot stated his intention to fly over a friend’s house. The pilot took off from runway 20 and flew a traffic pattern, remaining in view. The airplane turned from base to final at 400–500 ft altitude, appearing at normal cruising speed of 80 mph. On final, the airplane was significantly right of the extended centerline with wings level, then began a gradual descent followed by a steep 45° nose-down pitch into trees. The witness noted the engine was operating normally with no sputtering or stall indications.
Another witness observed the two airplanes land and the accident airplane take off. He described the traffic pattern as wider than normal but stated everything appeared normal until the airplane pitched nose-down at about 45° from wings-level on approach. He did not believe the airplane stalled and indicated the engine sounded as if it was running.
Pilot Information
The first witness, custodian of the airplane, reported that the pilot had about 3 to 4 hours of flight experience in the accident airplane and had inquired about purchasing it. The airplane had been stored for about 20 years, and the witness had helped the pilot with repairs and instruction over the previous year. According to FAA records, the pilot held a private pilot certificate and a third-class medical certificate issued February 4, 2004. At that time, he reported 300 hours of total flight experience. No pilot logbooks were available.
Aircraft Information
The Kolb Firestar KXP was a two-seat airplane equipped with a 50-horsepower engine and a 10-gallon fuel capacity. Its empty weight was 325 lbs. The airplane did not meet requirements of Title 14 CFR Part 103 for ultralight operation. No maintenance logbooks were available.
Wreckage Examination
The airplane came to rest in a near-vertical, nose-down attitude in a wooded area. All major components were within a 60-foot radius. Both wings were damaged and separated from the fuselage; ailerons remained attached. The fuselage tube was fractured aft of the cockpit. Control cables to the rudder and elevator were intact and continuous. The engine separated from the fuselage, coming to rest 10 feet away, and both carburetors separated from the engine. Fuel shutoff valves were open, and each tank contained about 2 gallons of green-colored fuel that leaked. When the primer bulb was squeezed, fuel flowed from the carburetor supply lines.
Toxicology and Autopsy
An autopsy by the Office of Gloucester-Camden-Salem Medical Examiner determined the cause of death as multiple injuries, manner accident. Toxicology testing detected multiple substances in the pilot’s blood and tissues. The medical examiner’s toxicology found delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) at 5.4 ng/mL, THC-COOH at 60 ng/mL, methamphetamine at 830 ng/mL, amphetamine at 90 ng/mL, and hydrocodone at 25 ng/mL. FAA Forensic Sciences Laboratory testing found THC at 3.1 ng/mL, 11-hydroxy-delta-9-THC at 0.9 ng/mL, THC-COOH at 31.1 ng/mL, methamphetamine at 708 ng/mL, amphetamine at 73 ng/mL, hydrocodone at 27 ng/mL, dihydrocodeine, and zolpidem at 9 ng/mL. These compounds were also detected in lung, muscle, or liver tissue.