# Accident 20180427000269A: Wolfe Thomas M KITFOX V, Kalkaska, MI, April 27, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: April 27, 2018, 14:16 local time
- Place: Kalkaska, MI
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Cruise/Level Flight
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 44.6744° N, 85.2358° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6744&lon=-85.2358&mi=10
- Aircraft: N818TW, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N818TW-2021-05-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Wolfe Thomas M KITFOX V (registry code 05624IE, https://openairdocs.org/model/wolfe-thomas-m-kitfox-v) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental IOF-240-B (registry code 17168, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-iof-240-b) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WOLFE THOMAS M KITFOX V
- Reported engine: CONT MOTOR IOF-240-B
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 2
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 659 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN18LA150](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA150) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180427000269A

## Narrative

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

ON APRIL 27, 2018 AT APPROXIMATELY 14:16 EASTERN DAYLIGHT TIME(EDT), A KITFOX V EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT, N818TW, REGISTERED TO AND OPERATED BY A PRIVATE PILOT, RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH THE TERRAIN ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AT THE INTERSECTION OF VROOM RD. AND HIGHWAY US131, SOUTH OF THE TOWN OF KALKASKA, MI.

THE PERSONAL FLIGHT WAS BEING CONDUCTED UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF TITLE 14 CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS (CFR) PART 91 WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN. THE PILOT AND ONE PASSENGER RECEIVED FATAL INJURIES. THE FLIGHT ORIGINATED FROM INDIANAPOLIS REGIONAL AIRPORT (MQJ) AND WAS IN ROUTE TO MACKINAC ISLAND, MI (MCD)

ACCORDING TO SEVERAL WITNESSES WRITTEN STATEMENTS, THE AIRCRAFT WAS "SPINNING BELLY DOWN?, AND THEN IMPACTED THE TERRAIN AT A FLAT ATTITUDE.  THE AIRCRAFT FUSELAGE WAS COMPRESSED, TWISTED, AND SUBSTAINED TAIL TORSIONAL DAMAGE.  IMPACT MARKS ON THE GROUND SHOWED ROTATION MARKS TO THE LEFT, LOOKING FROM THE REAR OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE OCCUPANTS OF THE AIRCRAFT WERE THROWN TOWARDS THE RIGHT SIDE DOOR. CONDITIONS OBSERVED AT THE SCENE SHOW THAT THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE GROUND IN A LEVEL ATTITUDE IN A FLAT SPIN.  ALL AIRCRAFT CONTROLS HAD CONTINUITY. A FUEL SAMPLE WAS TAKEN FROM THE LEFT FUEL TANK, WHICH SHOWED TO BE 100 LL, AND NO CONTAMINATION.

THE ATIS/ASOS WEATHER REPORT AT KTVC AIRPORT AT 1353 EDT WAS: WIND 040 DEGREES AT 11 KNOTS, VISIBILITY 10 STATUTE MILES, OVERCAST AT 1900 FEET AGL, TEMP 05, DEW POINT 01, AND ALTIMETER 2980.

ON MAY 15, 2018 NO DEFECTS WERE FOUND ON THE ENGINE AFTER THE INSPECTION WAS PERFORMED BY A TELEDYNE CONTINENTAL TECHNICIAN. THE ENGINE FADEC  MEMORY CARD WAS REMOVED, AND SENT TO CONTINENTAL FACTORY FOR REVIEW. THE RESULTS FROM THE FADEC CARD ARE NOT KNOW AT THIS TIME. AIRCRAFT LOGBOOKS SHOWED AIRCRAFT IN ANNUAL CONDITION INSPECTION, AND NO APPARENT MECHANICAL DEFICIENCIES.

NO PRELIMINARY OR FINAL AUTOPSY REPORT AVAILABLE AT THIS TIME.

## 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 CEN18LA150](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN18LA150), Apr 27, 2018: Wolfe Kitfox V (N818TW), Kalkaska, MI, destroyed, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control that resulted in a stall/spin following climb from the departure airport.

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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