Golden Circle Air T-BIRD II UNREG

Summary

On 18 November 2004 at about 23:00 local time, a Golden Circle Air T-BIRD II registered UNREG, operated by Earl and/or Mike Masters, was involved in an accident near Dunlap, Tennessee, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 were seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

18 November 2004 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Dunlap, Tennessee, United States

Nearest airport

Private

Coordinates

35.3733, -85.3917

Aircraft

Golden Circle Air T-BIRD II

Registration

UNREG

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Earl and/or Mike Masters

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ATL05LA026

2 people were seriously injured.

The pilot's improper flare during forced landing following a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons, which resulted in a hard landing. A factor was the separation of a fuel line, which resulted in fuel starvation to the engine.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

On takeoff, the airplane climbed to an altitude of approximately 60 to 90 feet when the engine suddenly lost power. The pilot immediately pushed the nose down, and the airplane descended at a steep descent angle. When the pilot pulled back on the controls to flare the airplane, it did not round out as he expected it should, and it hit the ground hard and traveled approximately 30 or 40 feet and came to a stop. Examination of the wreckage revealed the nosewheel was separated, the tubular metal frame forward of the seats was separated, and both wings were damaged. A witness who arrived at the scene reported a fuel line was found disconnected from the base of the fuel tank, and there was no fuel in the tank and no odor of fuel on the airplane or on the ground. No clamp was observed on the disconnected line. The pilot stated the flight had departed with sufficient fuel in the fuel tank.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.