ATL95LA018

Factual narrative

On November 25, 1994, at 1530 eastern standard time, a Bartholomew Firestar, N432JR, collided with trees during a forced landing in High Point, North Carolina. The commercial pilot had minor injuries, and the aircraft was substantially damaged. The homebuilt aircraft was operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight to Waxhaw, North Carolina. The flight originated in Greensboro, North Carolina, at 1450. The pilot reported that the aircraft was in cruise flight, at 2,000 feet mean sea level, when he reached for a map. As he did this, he inadvertently switched off the ignition toggle switch. The engine quit, and he could not restart the engine in time to avert a forced landing. The aircraft collided with cedar trees during the landing, resulting in structural damage to the pilot cage. An examination of the aircraft did not reveal evidence of a mechanical malfunction or failure, and none was reported by the pilot. THE PILOT WAS FLYING AT 2,000 FEET MSL WHEN HE REACHED FOR A MAP. AS HE DID THIS, HE INADVERTENTLY SHUT OFF THE ENGINE IGNITION TOGGLE SWITCH. THE ENGINE QUIT, AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE PRIOR TO A COLLISION WITH TREES. THE PILOT REPORTED NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION OR FAILURE WITH THE AIRCRAFT, AND NONE WAS FOUND DURING THE EXAMINATION OF THE WRECKAGE. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12