UNREG

On August 24, 1997, about 1645 eastern daylight time, a Kolb FireStar-II, an unregistered airplane with no airworthiness certificate collided with the ground on local flight near Albany, Georgia. The airplane was flown by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 and visual flight rules. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A flight plan was not filed for the personal flight. The private pilot was seriously injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Origination of the flight was a private strip 8 miles north of Albany, about 1630. The FireStar II was a high wing airplane with fixed landing gear. The engine was a Rotax 503. This FireStar II was considered an experimental aircraft after the addition of a second seat and extra fuel tanks by the builder. The airplane had 12 hours total time, and had not been inspected since the builder completed the airplane.

According to the owner and builder of the airplane, the airplane took off from a grass strip approximately 700 feet long. The airplane lifted off at approximately 150 feet. The pilot then circled the grass strip 4 times and made a low pass over the grass strip. The pilot then turned the airplane back towards the field and stalled the airplane. The airplane crashed nose first into the terrain. According to the owner, the engine was still running when they arrived at the scene.

The following information was obtained from the report by Dr. Mitchell A. Garber, NTSB Medical Officer.

The pilot in this accident, Ronald Payne Barthelemy, had presented to Dr. Dilip T. Patel, an Aviation Medical Examiner in Dawson, Georgia, on May 22, 1997, applying for a 2nd class medical certificate. Dr. Patel did not issue the certificate primarily because Mr. Barthelemy was confused, forgetful, and evasive. Even simple questions, such as "What day is it?" were answered ambiguously with responses like "well, you know." When Dr. Patel informed Mr. Barthelemy that a certificate would not be issued, Mr. Barthelemy became very angry.

Mr. Barthelemy had insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus since 1964, with complications including diabetic retinopathy (eye disease) treated with laser coagulation in 1991 and 1992, diabetic neuropathy (nerve disease), and kidney failure for which he was receiving hemodialysis three days a week at the time of his accident.

In February 1993, Mr. Barthelemy was admitted to the hospital with a left parietal intracerebral hemorrhage (stroke) and seizures, for which he was treated with anti-seizure medications. At the time of diagnosis of seizures, his symptoms consisted of "... progressive weakness of the right side of his body, associated with ill-defined mental changes, disorientation and uncontrolled generalized motor seizure activity." In January 1996, he was noted to be on three anti-seizure medications and ataxic (staggering).

Mr. Barthelemy was hospitalized for treatment of multiple injuries following his accident until 10/14/97. A CT scan of the head was performed during that admission which revealed fracture of the skull with no underlying injury to the brain. He was readmitted with fever on 10/15/97, and remained in the hospital until his death on 12/13/97.

None of the above conditions were reported to the FAA on the pilot's applications for medical certification.

According to the FAA inspector, the pilot violated the Federal Aviation Regulations by acting as pilot in command of an unregistered aircraft which did not have an appropriate airworthiness certificate, and by flying without a current medical certificate.