Lakeland Ultralites Inc. KOLB MARK III accident near Clark, Pennsylvania, July 5, 1999
On July 5, 1999, a Lakeland Ultralites Inc. KOLB MARK III, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N901JL, was destroyed in an accident near Clark, Pennsylvania. 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 pilot's improper decision to perform an aerobatic maneuver with inadequate altitude for recovery/clearance.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 5, 1999
- Place
- Clark, Pennsylvania · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Lakeland Ultralites Inc. KOLB MARK III KOLB MARK, amateur-built
- Registration
- N901JL · no longer on the register · serial 1017
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The homebuilt airplane was observed making multiple low altitude passes over a lake. The airplane was observed to pull up into a vertical climb. When the airplane reached an estimated height of about 300 feet above the water, it continued over onto its back, and then into a nose down attitude similar to a loop. However, the airplane did not recover to level flight, but continued in a nose down attitude and struck the surface of the water. Witnesses reported the sound of the engine remained constant throughout the maneuver. Examination of the airplane revealed flight control continuity was present. The investigation revealed the airplane had been taken without permission of the owner. The pilot did not possess a pilot certificate or FAA airman medical certificate. However, he had flown and worked on ultra-lites.
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
- Airframe total time: 47 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 25, 1996; 47 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 4D2 Brookfield OH at 10:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 11:51 pm from YNG, 11 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.
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.