# Accident 20090816015829A: Morsef KITFOX, Crawford, CO, August 16, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 16, 2009, 16:06 local time
- Place: Crawford, CO
- Airport: Crawford
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 38.7011° N, 107.6239° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7011&lon=-107.6239&mi=10
- Aircraft: N39FM, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N39FM-2017-07-12) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Morse Frank L KITFOX (registry code 05612SW, https://openairdocs.org/model/morse-frank-l-kitfox) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 582SER (registry code 55556, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ser) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: MORSEF KITFOX
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 2,780 total, 40 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN09CA528](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA528) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090816015829A

## Narrative

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

(-23)  FLYING OVER GENTLY SLOPING HILLSIDE.  DECIDED TO CHECK WATER LINE FOR AIR PARK DURING FLIGHT; MADE PASS OVER WATER LINE HEAD GATE (150') TO CHECK WINDS, NO DOWNDRAFT NOTICED.  MADE LOWER PASS (50') TO CHECK HEADGATE, AIRCRAFT GOT CAUGHT IN DOWNDRAFT AND COULD NOT RECOVER.  CLIPPED TREES, IMPACTED HILLSIDE.  AIRCRAFT SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED (PROPELLER SHREDDED, RIGHT MAIN LANDING FOLDED UNDER, NOSE GEAR BROKE OFF, TAIL BENT AHEAD OF HORIZONTAL AND VERTICAL STABILIZERS, FORWARD SPAR ON RIGHT HAND WING BROKE OFF NEAR TIP).  CABIN INTACT - NO INJURIES.

## 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 CEN09CA528](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN09CA528), Aug 16, 2009: Morse, Frank L. Kitfox (N39FM), Crawford, CO, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's continued flight into a severe downdraft at low altitude after encountering tailwind over the area.

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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