Primary finding
Probable cause
Inadvertent stall during approach. A factor was the pilot's lack of total experience in make and model.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot received his private pilot certificate the day prior to the accident. According to his logbook, he flew the accident aircraft for one hour prior to the accident flight. While on base leg to landing at a private airstrip, the aircraft was observed in a 'tight' turn. While in this turn the aircraft was observed by witnesses to pitch down and impact the ground. Examination of the aircraft by an FAA inspector provided no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction.
Source record
Factual narrative
On September 9, 1995, at 1345 mountain daylight time, a Johnson Rebel 300, N36DJ, experimental homebuilt, impacted the ground during approach to a private airstrip near Keenesburg, Colorado. The private pilot received fatal injuries and the aircraft was destroyed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for this cross country flight operating in accordance with 14 CFR Part 91 and no flight plan was filed. According to his pilot logbook and FAA records, the pilot received his private certificate on September 8, 1995, the day prior to the accident. The pilot's log reflected that he had flown the aircraft for one hour prior to the accident flight. According to information given to the FAA inspector, who performed the on-scene portion of the investigation, the aircraft was observed in a tight turn on base leg to runway 18 when it pitched sharply nose down and impacted the ground approximately one quarter mile short of the runway. The pilot was transported by helicopter to the hospital in Greeley, Colorado, and expired approximately three hours following the accident. Examination of the aircraft by an FAA inspector provided no evidence of preimpact failure or malfunction. -