# Accident 19990629047469A: Amtr KITFOX41200, Caldwell, ID, June 29, 1999

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 29, 1999, 20:00 local time
- Place: Caldwell, ID
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.6609° N, 116.6307° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6609&lon=-116.6307&mi=10
- Aircraft: N818HW, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N818HW-2007-09-17) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Withington Holden W KITFOX 1200 IV (registry code 05601B6, https://openairdocs.org/model/withington-holden-w-kitfox-1200-iv) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL) (registry code 09050, https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR KITFOX41200
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 550 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB SEA99LA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA099) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990629047469A

## Narrative

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

(.4) PRIOR TO TAKING OFF FROM AN OPEN FIELD, THE PILOT ACCIDENTALLY DEPLOYED HIS FLAPS FURTHER THAN THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN FOR TAKEOFF. WITH THE FLAPS IN THE INCORRECT POSITION, THE AIRCRAFT'S TAKEOFF ROLL WAS EXTENDED AND ITS RATE OF CLIMB WAS DECREASED. JUST AFTER THE AIRCRAFT BECAME AIRBORNE, IT BECAME EVIDENT TO THE PILOT THAT IT MAY NOT CLEAR A POWER LINE ALONG HIS TAKEOFF TRACK. HE THEREFORE FLEW UNDERNEATH THE WIRE, BUT FAILED TO CLEAR APPLE TREES THAT WERE JUST BEYOND THE WIRES. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF AN ENGINE OR FLIGHT CONTROL MALFUNCTION. (-23) THE AIRMAN ATTEMPTED A TAKEOFF FROM HIS OWN CLEARED ALFALFA FIELD. THE AIRMAN FELT THAT HE HAD THE FLAPS IMPROPERLY DEPLOYED. THIS TAKEOFF WAS DOWN HILL TO THE SOUTH. THE PILOT REALIZED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT GOING TO FLY OUT OF GROUND EFFECT, AND ELECTED TO FLY UNDER POWER LINES AT THE EDGE OF THE FIELD. AFTER FLYING UNDER THE LINES HE ENCOUNTERED AN APPLE ORCHARD WHICH SLOWED HIS AIRCRAFT AND IT SUBSEQUENTLY CRASHED INTO THE SMALL APPLE TREES. THE AIRCRAFT ENDED UP ON ITS NOSE WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING AND ITS TAIL IN THE TOP OF AN APPLE TREE. HE THEN SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE, CLIMBED OUT                 AND WALKED BACK TO HIS HOME.

## 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 SEA99LA099](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA99LA099), Jun 30, 1999: Whithington Kitfox 1200 (N818HW), Caldwell, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from obstacles along his departure path. Factors include the pilot's incorrect positioning of the flaps prior to takeoff, and a transmission wire and trees…

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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