Amateur-built Kolb Mark III accident near Norfork, Arkansas, November 28, 2002
On November 28, 2002 at about 8:56 pm local time, a amateur-built Kolb Mark III, registered N4672D, was substantially damaged in an accident near Norfork, Arkansas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. 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 were the trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 28, 2002 · about 8:56 pm local time
- Place
- Norfork, Arkansas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Kolb Mark III
- Registration
- N4672D · no longer on the register · serial 0100
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after takeoff, the homebuilt experimental airplane lost power approximately 100 feet AGL. During the ensuing forced landing, and the airplane descended through trees and came to rest upright. Examination of the engine revealed water in the carburetor bowl. According to the pilot, the airplane was flown for 5 hours in the past 90 days and the fuel tank was left half full for a "long time" before being filled prior to the day of the flight. The pilot reported that he had sumped the fuel tank during pre-flight prior to the accident flight.
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: single-engine land
- Flight time: 350 hours in all; 203 in this make and model; 5 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 203 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru 2200 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Norfork at 7:14 pm
- Destination: NONE Norfork AR
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 180° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 57°F (14°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.29 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.