Amateur-built Kolb MK III X accident near Dickson, Tennessee, June 24, 2005
On June 24, 2005 at about 12:53 pm local time, a amateur-built Kolb MK III X, registered N194DM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dickson, Tennessee (Dickson Muni airport). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate obstacle clearance during climb out which resulted in the in-flight collision with a tree.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 24, 2005 · about 12:53 pm local time
- Place
- Dickson, Tennessee · Dickson Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Kolb MK III X
- Registration
- N194DM · registry record · serial M3X03-2-00044
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to a witness on the ground, this was the first flight of the experimental airplane. The pilot had just completed a series of high-speed taxis, and prepared for the initial flight. The airplane climbed out from runway 35, made a steep bank to the right, and the right wing collided with a tree. The airplane was located in a field approximately 100 yards off the right side of runway 35. No reported flight control or mechanical anomalies were reported by the pilot prior to the accident. Post accident examination of the experimental airplane revealed that the cockpit section was post fire damaged. Flight controls in the cockpit section were fire damaged. The aileron push pull tubes were traced from the aileron attachment points to the fire damaged controls in the cockpit. The rudder and elevators were attached to the horizontal and vertical stabilizers. The elevator and rudder control cables were traced from the attachment points to the fire damaged controls in the cockpit. Post accident examination of the engine revealed valve train continuity was established. External components on the engine were fire damaged. No mechanical or flight control anomalies were noted at the completion of the airframe and engine examination.
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: private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 600 hours in all; 1 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Volkswagen 2180 (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: M02 Dickson TN at 12:50 pm
- Destination: M02 Dickson TN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 4,002 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dawn
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 4 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.10 inHg
- Observation at 12:52 pm from KCKV, 29 miles away
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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ATL05LA113.