Amateur-built Mark III accident near Edgewater, Florida, July 24, 2001
On July 24, 2001 at about 5:17 pm local time, a amateur-built Mark III, registered N703BL, was destroyed in an accident near Edgewater, Florida (Massey Ranch Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of flight control in-flight for undetermined reasons, that resulted in the uncontrolled collision with the ground.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 2001 · about 5:17 pm local time
- Place
- Edgewater, Florida · Massey Ranch Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Mark III
- Registration
- N703BL · registry record · serial MT993-00008
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A Kolb Twin Star, Mark III, impacted the ground in a backyard of a single family dwelling in Edgewater, Florida. The pilot stated that shortly after takeoff from Massey Air Ranch Airport on runway 18, he experienced a loss of control of the airplane during his second left turn. The pilot stated that the elevator and aileron did not respond to the movement of the control stick. The airplane collided with the ground as the pilot attempted to regain control. Examination of the airplane revealed continuity existed between the control stick and the elevators and ailerons.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,000 hours in all; 20 in this make and model
- Last flight review: February 1, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X50 Massey FL at 5:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,845 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 2,300 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from DAB
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.