Amateur-built KOLB TWINSTAR MK II accident near Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania, October 14, 1990
On October 14, 1990 at about 2:52 pm local time, a amateur-built KOLB TWINSTAR MK II, registered N2224N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania (New Hanover 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
THE FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AFTER AN INTERUPTION OF POWER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 14, 1990 · about 2:52 pm local time
- Place
- Gilbertsville, Pennsylvania · New Hanover · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KOLB TWINSTAR MK II KOLB TWINS
- Registration
- N2224N · no longer on the register · serial TSO112
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A WITNESS STATED, '...THE AIRCRAFT MADE A NORMAL TAKEOFF. AT APPROXIMATELY 100', THE ENGINE SPUTTERED. THE PILOT LOWERED THE NOSE AND THE ENGINE PICKED UP AGAIN. THE PILOT STARTED A SLOW LEFT TURN AND THE AIRCRAFT STALLED AND ENTERED A SPIN. AIRCRAFT STRUCK THE GROUND NOSE DOWN, NEAR VERTICAL.'
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: 225 hours in all; 93 in this make and model; 38 in the last 90 days; 23 in the last 30 days; 145 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 184 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 6, 1990; 13 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 750 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 503 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N62
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 2,455 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 310° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 4,000 ft; ovct at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 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.
Other NTSB records under N2224N 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.