# Accident 19980926042379A: Amtrdf KITFOX, San Angelo, TX, September 26, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 26, 1998, 14:00 local time
- Place: San Angelo, TX
- Airport: Mathis Field
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 29.1906° N, 98.6792° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.1906&lon=-98.6792&mi=10
- Aircraft: N8114H, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N8114H-2019-10-05) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Hundere AL KITFOX 2 (registry code 05616FG, https://openairdocs.org/model/hundere-al-kitfox-2) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL) (registry code 09050, https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTRDF KITFOX
- Reported engine: ROTAX ROTAX532
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 97 total, 8 in this make and model, 4 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB FTW98LA419](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA419) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980926042379A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

(.4) THE 97 HOUR NON-INSTRUMENT RATED, PRIVATE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE TAILWHEEL EQUIPPED AIRPLANE DURING TAKEOFF FROM RUNWAY 13. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT PRIOR TO DEPARTURE HE OBSERVED AIRCRAFT TAKING OFF AND LANDING TO THE NORTH AND TO THE SOUTH. HE THEN OBSERVED THE WIND SOCK IN THE `CALM' POSITION, AND TAXIED THE AIRPLANE TO THE APPROACH END OF RUNWAY 13 FOR TAKEOFF. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL THE AIRPLANE ENCOUNTERED A GUST OF WIND FROM 120 DEGREES, WHICH `LIFTED THE AIRPLANE OFF THE GROUND PREMATURELY.' THE AIRPLANE `STALLED;' SUBSEQUENTLY, THE LEFT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND FIRST AND THE AIRPLANE GROUND LOOPED. AFTER THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED THE PILOT DETERMINED THAT THE WINDSOCK HAD BEEN STUCK AGAINST ITS SUPOORT POLE AND WAS NOT PROVIDING AN ACCURATE INDICATION OF WIND SPEED AND DIRECTION. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE WIND WAS FROM 120 DEGREES AT 8 KNOTS GUSTING TO 15 KNOTS AT THE TIME OF THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. ADDITIONALLY, THE PILOT HAD ACCUMULATED A TOTAL OF 7.7 HOURS IN THE AIRPLANE AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.               (-23) ON TAKE-OFF AIRCRAFT DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH AIR SPEED TO SUSTAIN FLIGHT. PILOT LOST CONTROL OF AIRCRAFT.  SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO PROP, LEFT WING AND  FUSELAGE. NO DAMAGE ON GROUND OR PERSONS. NO NMAC.  NO FIRE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB FTW98LA419](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW98LA419), Sep 26, 1998: Hundere Kitfox II (N8114H), Somerset, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadvertent stall. Factors were the wind sock that was displaying inaccurate information, the gusty wind condition, and the pilot's lack of experience in the tailwheel equipped airplane.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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