Kolb Company MKIII accident near Bunnell, Florida, June 14, 2003
On June 14, 2003 at about 1:30 pm local time, a Kolb Company MKIII, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bunnell, Florida (Flagler County airport). It was a flight test under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The inadequate preflight inspection of the airplane by the pilot-in-command (pilot) for his failure to assure that the forward attachment of the right horizontal stabilizer was secured and safetied before flight resulting in rotation of the leading edge of the right horizontal stabilizer and in-flight loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 2003 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Bunnell, Florida · Flagler County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Kolb Company MKIII, amateur-built
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial 035
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that prior to the flight, the horizontal stabilizers which had been folded up were extended. He attached the lower elevator flight control cables and performed a preflight inspection of the airplane; he does not have a preflight checklist. Following the preflight, he started the engine and taxied to runway 24, and after landing traffic cleared the runway, he taxied onto the runway and applied power to takeoff. The airplane became airborne and when the flight was approximately 15 to 20 feet above ground level, he heard a "boom" sound, and experienced an immediate loss of elevator control. The airplane began a right turn and pitched nosed down. He reduced throttle to idle, and the airplane impacted the ground between runways 24 and 27. He later stated the leading edge of the right horizontal stabilizer rotated up 90 degrees. Each horizontal stabilizer (stabilizer) is structurally attached to the boom tube at the front and rear of each stabilizer. Additionally, a flying wire attaches to the top and bottom of each stabilizer. The front of each stabilizer is secured to the boom tube by a clevis and a safety pin which secures through a u-shaped bracket on the boom tube and a mating fitting on the stabilizer. The rear of each stabilizer is secured to the boom tube by a 1/4 inch diameter bolt and self locking nut which goes through a hinge. According to the pilot, postaccident the forward clevis pin and safety pin of the right stabilizer was not located. The upper and lower flying wires of the right stabilizer were not failed, and the 1/4 inch diameter bolt of the aft attach point was in-place.
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; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 253 hours in all; 82 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 400 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, May 17, 2003; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 650 lb
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X47 Bunnell FL
- Destination: X47 Bunnell FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; scat at 3,000 ft
- Temperature: 187°F (86°C), dew point 167°F (75°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 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.
Other NTSB records under UNREG the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.