Amateur-built KOLB/TWINSTAR accident near Round Lake, New York, January 27, 1991
On January 27, 1991 at about 8:50 pm local time, a amateur-built KOLB/TWINSTAR, registered N71817, was substantially damaged in an accident near Round Lake, New York (Round Lake airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
IN-FLIGHT STRUCTURAL FAILURE OF THE OUTBOARD WING ATTACHMENT FITTINGS ON BOTH WINGS DUE TO AN UNDETERMINED REASON.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- January 27, 1991 · about 8:50 pm local time
- Place
- Round Lake, New York · Round Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KOLB/TWINSTAR KOLB/TWINS
- Registration
- N71817 · no longer on the register
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AMATEUR BUILT ACFT WAS ON ITS 1ST FLT AFTER BEING CONSTRUCTED. IT FLEW ABOUT 5 MIN BEFORE THE OWNER/BUILDER/PLT RETURNED THE PLANE FOR LANDING. AT ABOUT 75 FT AGL ON FINAL APCH, BOTH WINGS FAILED & THE ACFT CRASHED. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT STEEL BOLTS WERE MISSING FROM THE OUTBOARD WING STRUT ATTACHMENT FITTINGS, RIVETS THAT HELD THE OUTBOARD ATTACHMENT FITTINGS TO THE WING HAD SHEARED OFF. THE REASON FOR THE MISSING BOLTS AND SHEARED REVITS WAS NOT VERIFIED. THE ACFT HAD BEEN REGISTERED WITH THE FAA, BUT THERE WAS NO AIRWORTHINESS CERTIFICATE. ALSO, NO WEIGHT & BALANCE DATA WAS FOUND IN THE ACFT, THE PLT WAS NOT AN FAA CERTIFIED AIRMAN, NOR DID HE POSSESS A VALID FAA MEDICAL CERTIFICATE.
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
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 2,000 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 315° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: not recorded; ovct
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.