# Accident 20091017025959A: Gottelt Her KITFOX IV/S, Crystal Falls, MI, October 17, 2009

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 17, 2009, 15:30 local time
- Place: Crystal Falls, MI
- Airport: Iron County
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 46.0092° N, 88.2739° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.0092&lon=-88.2739&mi=10
- Aircraft: N94HG, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N94HG-2011-09-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Gottelt Herbert R KITFOX IV/SPEEDSTER (registry code 05624PH, https://openairdocs.org/model/gottelt-herbert-r-kitfox-iv-speedster) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL) (registry code 09050, https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GOTTELT HER KITFOX IV/S
- Reported engine: BOMBARDIER ROTAX (ALL)
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 2,560 total, 406 in this make and model, 6 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN10CA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA022) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20091017025959A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT TOOK OFF FROM CRYSTAL FALLS (50D) ON RUNWAY 30 FOR A SHORT LOCAL FLIGHT. THIS WAS THE THIRD FLIGHT OF THE DAY. THE PILOT STATED THAT JUST AFTER TAKEOFF HE EXPERIENCED AN AILERON/FLAPERON CONTROL PROBLEM AND COULD NOT MOVE THE CONTROL STICK TO THE LEFT. HE MANAGED TO CONTROL THE AIRCRAFT IN A SHALLOW LEFT TURN TO RETURN TO THE AIRPORT.  HE PULLED OFF THE POWER AND CRASHED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF RUNWAY 02 APPROXIMATELY 100 FEET NORTH OF THE APPROACH END. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE MAY HAVE STALLED THE AIRCRAFT WHILE TRYING TO LAND. ENGINE OPERATION WAS NOT A FACTOR. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED ON ITS LEFT SIDE, NOSE LOW. THE MAIN GEAR WAS TORN OFF, THE LEFT WING WAS DAMAGED AT THE WING ROOT, AND THE FORWARD LEFT FUSELAGE WAS CRUSHED IN. THERE WAS NO POST CRASH 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 CEN10CA022](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10CA022), Oct 17, 2009: Gottelt Herbert R Kitfox IV/ (N94HG), Crystal Falls, MI, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inability to maintain control due to an undetermined problem affecting lateral control of the 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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