Amateur-built KOLB MARK III accident near Ozark, Arkansas, January 7, 2009
On January 7, 2009 at about 5:00 pm local time, a amateur-built KOLB MARK III, registered N313JD, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Ozark, Arkansas (Private 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 engine power due to fuel contamination. Contributing to the accident was the pilot maintaining a high angle of attack during takeoff, which resulted in an inadvertent stall when the engine failed.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 7, 2009 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ozark, Arkansas · Private Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KOLB MARK III
- Registration
- N313JD · registry record · serial M3139
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During takeoff, about 20 feet above the ground, the airplane experienced a loss of engine power. The sport pilot was unable to recover from a nose-high attitude prior to the airplane stalling and landing hard. During the landing rollout, the airplane contacted a berm resulting in substantial damage to the airplane and serious injuries to the pilot. An examination of the airplane revealed fuel contamination. The source of the fuel contamination could not be determined.
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
What happened, in order
- Fuel contamination during initial climb defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Runway excursion during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Fluid condition
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 500 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: January 8, 2008
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 233 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 20, 2008; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bombardier Rotax (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Ozark AR at 5:00 pm
- Destination: Ozark AR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 50°F (10°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 29.73 inHg
- Observation at 6:53 pm from FSM, 36 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.