Kolb FIRESTAR accident near Vineland, NJ
On January 11, 2021, a Kolb FIRESTAR (airplane) was involved in an accident near Vineland, NJ. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- January 11, 2021
- Place
- Vineland, NJ
- Aircraft
- Kolb FIRESTAR · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 39.547°N, 74.963°W
- NTSB ID
- 20210115102525
Official records · ERA21LA102
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On January 11, 2021, at 1230 eastern standard time, an unregistered Kolb Firestar KXP was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Vineland, New Jersey. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 personal flight. According to a witness, he and the accident pilot flew, in separate airplanes, from the witness’ residence to Vineland-Downstown Airport (28N), Vineland, New Jersey, about 7 miles away. After landing, the accident pilot told the witness that he wanted to fly over a friend’s house in the local area. The accident pilot boarded the airplane, took off from runway 20, and flew a traffic pattern around the airport. The airplane remained in view the entire flight. The airplane turned from a base leg to final at an altitude of 400 to 500 ft, and “seemed to be at normal cruising speed of 80 mph.” While on final, the airplane appeared to be “significantly” to the right of the runway 20 extended centerline, with the wings straight and level. The airplane began a gradual descent, followed by a “steep 45° nose down pitch into the trees.” The airplane appeared to be at “cruising speed” and did not appear to stall. The engine was “operating normally and no indication of sputtering or engine failure of any kind.” Another witness stated that he watched the two airplanes land, and the accident airplane take off shortly thereafter. He stated that the accident airplane flew a “wider than normal” traffic pattern around the airport, but that everything seemed normal until the airplane pitched to
Probable cause
A steep descent and impact with terrain during final approach for reasons that could not be determined.
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Browse: New Jersey
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
