Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Calhoun, Tennessee 37309
Saturday, August 8, 2009 10:15 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to a witness, he observed the airplane climb straight up and then do a “cartwheel” and come straight down before leveling out. He watched as the airplane did this maneuver two more times. On the third time the airplane went straight up and flipped over backwards, and at about 200 feet above ground level started to spin before colliding with the ground. The airplane was not certificated for aerobatics. Examination of the airframe, engine and system components revealed no evidence of preimpact mechanical failure or malfunction. Toxicological testing detected a prescription painkiller, a prescription anti-nausea medication, and an over-the-counter antihistamine in specimens from the pilot. No blood was available, so it was not possible to estimate when the substances might have most recently been used or whether the pilot may have been impaired by one or more of the medications at the time of the accident. The pilot had neither noted the use of any medications nor the presence of any conditions requiring the use of medications at the time of his most recent application for a Federal Aviation Administration medical certificate.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s decision to perform aerobatics at a low altitude and his failure to maintain control of the airplane while performing aerobatics.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/8/2009
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1015
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Calhoun
Event State TENNESSEE
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 37309
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 351618N
Event Location Longitude 0844318W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 953 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 210
Weather Observation Facility ID CHA
Elevation of weather observation facility 874
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 28
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2500
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Few
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.24
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 2
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27596
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 7 2010 1:14PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N2456
NTSB Number ERA09LA450
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Stump Bradley
Aircraft Model Kolb
Aircraft Series Identifier M3X
Aircraft Serial Number M3X6-4-00084
Certified Max Gross Weight 1060
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Mar 28 2009 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 15
Airframe Hours 42
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Bradley Stump
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Hamilton
Aircraft Owner State TN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 37341
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Bradley Stump
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Hamilton
Operator State TN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 37341
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code HDI
Departure City Cleveland
Departure State TN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code HDI
Destination City Cleveland
Destination State TN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 7 2010 1:14PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --