Thompson Kolb Twinstar Mark accident near Elkhart, IN
On September 8, 2010, a Thompson Kolb Twinstar Mark (airplane) was involved in an accident near Elkhart, IN. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- September 8, 2010
- Place
- Elkhart, IN
- Aircraft
- Thompson Kolb Twinstar Mark · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 41.708°N, 86.000°W
- NTSB ID
- 20100908X13950
Official records · CEN10LA526
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On September 8, 2010, at 1958 eastern daylight time, an amateur-built Thompson Kolb Twinstar Mark III, N408K, impacted the terrain following a loss of control while landing on runway 36 at the Elkhart Municipal Airport (EKM), Elkhart, Indiana. The pilot was fatally injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight was being conducted under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The local flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight departed from EKM about 1938. The accident occurred on the first flight following completion of the airplane's construction. According to personnel at the EKM air traffic control tower, the pilot went to the control tower to speak with the controllers. He stated he was going to make the airplane’s first flight and that after takeoff he wanted to orbit the airport at 3,000 feet so he could get a feel for the airplane. He stated he needed to figure out the stall speed and handling characteristics of the airplane. There were several witnesses who saw the airplane during the flight. An air traffic controller stated the airplane took off and circled the airport for 10 to 12 minutes. The pilot then radioed that he was ready to return to land. The controller cleared the pilot for the option to land, go-around, make a low pass, a touch and go, or a stop and go. He stated he was not sure if the airplane ever touched down on the runway, but he saw the airplane nose down and impact the ground off the side of the runway. Another witness, a pilot, reported seeing t
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing approach.
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Browse: Indiana
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
