ATL04LA033

Factual narrative

On November 2, 2003, at 1720 Eastern Standard Time, a Bartholomew Firestar, N432JR, registered to a private owner, operating as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, stalled and collided with trees on approach for landing at JAARS-Townsend Airport, Waxhaw, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane received substantial damage. The flight originated from Waxhaw, North Carolina, on November 2, 2003, at 1620. The pilot stated he realized he was too high on the approach, so he made a right 360-degree turn to the left followed by a 360-turn to the right. The turn rate was almost completed when the right roll rate dramatically increased due to wake turbulence from the initial 360-degree turn causing the right wing to stall and the airplane collided with the trees and ground. When asked what his airspeed was when the airplane stalled the pilot stated about 29 mph. Review of performance data from the Kolb Aircraft Company, revealed the Firestar airplane will stall in the clean and landing configuration at 33 mph. The pilot stated he was on final approach at the JAARS-Townsend Airport. He realized that he was too high, so he made a 360-degree turn to the left followed by a 360-degree turn to the right. The turn rate was almost completed when the right roll rate increased due to encountering the wake turbulence from the initial 360-degree turn. The airplane stalled and collided with the trees and the ground. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12