Primary finding
Probable cause
Failure of the pilot to maintain airspeed resulting in the inadvertent stall. Contributing to the accident was complacency by the pilot while on short final approach to land.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot stated that he became complacent while on short final approach to land and the airplane stalled and crashed short of the runway. He further stated that there was no preimpact engine or airframe failure or malfunction.
Source record
Factual narrative
On April 8, 1995, about 0930 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Kolb Twinstar, N89JG, registered to James W. Garrison, stalled and crashed at the Lakeland Linder Regional Airport, Lakeland, Florida, while on a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the flight. The private-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated about 0800 from the Arthur Dunn Air Park, Titusville, Florida. The pilot stated that he became complacent and while on short final approach to land, the airplane stalled and crashed just short of the runway. He further stated that there was no airframe or engine preimpact failure or malfunction. -