Amateur-built KOLB MARK III accident near Findlay, Ohio, June 11, 1997
On June 11, 1997, a amateur-built KOLB MARK III, registered N1144T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Findlay, Ohio (Lutz Field). 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 power due to one of two carburetors disconnecting in flight for undetermined reasons, and the subsequent collision with the terrain during forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 11, 1997
- Place
- Findlay, Ohio · Lutz Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KOLB MARK III KOLB MARK
- Registration
- N1144T · no longer on the register · serial M3226
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot owner/builder of the experimental airplane took off from the private airstrip and climbed to 800 feet msl. Upon level off, the engine experienced partial power loss, followed by total power loss. The pilot stated that the carburetor came off in flight, and he attempted to return to the airstrip, but landed short in a cornfield. The engine utilized two carburetors. The detached carburetor was still attached to the throttle linkage. The attaching clamp remained on the rubber bushing on the engine.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 900 hours in all; 13 in this make and model; 850 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 13 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 18, 1996; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 UL DCDI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE OH
- Destination: NONE Bloomdale OH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 2,000 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 12 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 75°F (24°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
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.