NTSB Factual Report

On June 24, 2005, at 0753 central daylight time, a experimental Kolb MK IIIX, N194DM, registered to and operated by a private pilot collided with a tree and power lines, and burst into flames during climb out from Dickson Municipal Airport, Dickson, Tennessee. The personal flight was operated under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 with no flight plan filed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot was fatally injured and the airplane was substantially damaged. The flight departed Dickson Municipal Airport, Dickson, Tennessee, on June 24, 2005 at 0750.

According to a witness on the ground, this was the first flight of the experimental airplane. The pilot had completed a series of high-speed taxis, and prepared for the initial flight. During the climb out from runway 35, the airplane made a steep bank to the right and descended into a tree. The right wing collided with a tree, and the airplane descended into a power line.

Review of pilot records revealed the pilot was issued a private pilot certificate on June 4, 1977, with ratings for airplane single engine, and multiengine land. Review of pilot records reveal the pilot was issued a repairman certificate on May 5, 1983. Review of medical records revealed the pilot held a third-class medical certificate issued on June 29, 2003, valid when wearing corrective lenses for near vision during flight, and not valid for night flying or by color signal control. Review of airman records also revealed the pilot had reported total time of 600 flight hours. Aircraft maintenance records were not recovered for review.

The airplane rested in a field approximately 100 yards off the right side of runway 35. Post accident examination of the experimental airplane revealed that the cockpit section was fire damaged. Flight controls in the cockpit section were also fire damaged. The aileron push pull tubes were traced from the aileron attachment points to the fire damaged controls in the cockpit. The rudder and elevators were attached to the horizontal and vertical stabilizers. The elevator and rudder control cables were traced from the attachment points to the fire damaged controls in the cockpit. Post accident examination of the engine revealed valve train continuity was established. External components on the engine were fire damaged. No mechanical or flight control anomalies were noted at the completion of the post accident examination of the airframe and engine.

The Tennessee State Medical Examiner Office preformed the postmortem examination of the private pilot on June 25, 2005. The reported cause of death was "blunt force trauma." The postmortem toxicology specimens from the pilot were negative for carbon monoxide, cyanide, drugs and alcohol.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate obstacle clearance during climb out which resulted in the in-flight collision with a tree.