Lakeland Ultralites KOLB MARK III N901JL

Summary

On 5 July 1999 at about 00:10 local time, a Lakeland Ultralites KOLB MARK III registered N901JL was involved in an accident near Clark, Pennsylvania, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 died. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

5 July 1999 at 00:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Clark, Pennsylvania, United States

Coordinates

41.2791, -80.4210

Aircraft

Lakeland Ultralites KOLB MARK III

Registration

N901JL

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Brookfield → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC99LA165

2 people died.

The pilot's improper decision to perform an aerobatic maneuver with inadequate altitude for recovery/clearance.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The homebuilt airplane was observed making multiple low altitude passes over a lake. The airplane was observed to pull up into a vertical climb. When the airplane reached an estimated height of about 300 feet above the water, it continued over onto its back, and then into a nose down attitude similar to a loop. However, the airplane did not recover to level flight, but continued in a nose down attitude and struck the surface of the water. Witnesses reported the sound of the engine remained constant throughout the maneuver. Examination of the airplane revealed flight control continuity was present. The investigation revealed the airplane had been taken without permission of the owner. The pilot did not possess a pilot certificate or FAA airman medical certificate. However, he had flown and worked on ultra-lites.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.