Amateur-built Kolb Mark III accident near Panama City, Florida, February 27, 2007
On February 27, 2007 at about 4:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Kolb Mark III, registered UNREG, was substantially damaged in an accident near Panama City, Florida (Sandy Creek Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The failure of the pilot to maintain airspeed resulting in an inadvertent stall, uncontrolled descent, and in-flight collision with terrain. A factor in the accident was the loss of engine power for undetermined reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 27, 2007 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Panama City, Florida · Sandy Creek Airpark
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Kolb Mark III
- Registration
- UNREG · no longer on the register · serial Unknown
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A witness reported to the FAA investigator in charge that the pilot departed without warming up the engine, and during the takeoff, the airplane barely cleared trees past the departure end of the runway. There were no known witnesses to the accident but examination of the accident site, which was located approximately 2 miles east-southeast of the departure airport, revealed the airplane descended nearly vertical. Flight control continuity was confirmed. Examination of the engine revealed no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. Examination of the propeller revealed minor damage (nick) to one of the propeller blades. An adequate supply of fuel was noted in the airplane's plastic fuel tank, and fuel was noted in the carburetor bowls.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 75FL Panama City FL at 4:18 pm
- Destination: 75FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KPFN, 15 miles away
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.
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.