# Accident 20220219002159A: Terry D Johnstone KITFOX S7 SUPERSPORT, Phoenix, AZ, February 19, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 19, 2022, 17:19 local time
- Place: Phoenix, AZ
- Airport: Phoenix Deer Valley
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.6883° N, 112.0825° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6883&lon=-112.0825&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1248, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1248-2025-05-13) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Terry D Johnstone KITFOX S7 SUPERSPORT (registry code 05639ZV, https://openairdocs.org/model/terry-d-johnstone-kitfox-s7-supersport) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG (registry code 99999, https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TERRY D JOHNSTONE KITFOX S7 SUPERSPORT
- Reported engine: AMA/EXPR UNKNOWN ENG
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Airline transport
- Pilot flight hours: 14,443 total, 42 in this make and model, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR22LA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA108) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220219002159A

## Narrative

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

PIC WOKE UP AT APPROXIMATELY 4AM. PREFLIGHT WAS COMPLETED AND AIRCRAFT WAS FLOWN TO A COMPETITION WITH AN ARRIVAL AROUND 8:45AM. PIC WALKED AROUND THE COMPETITION GROUNDS FOR SEVERAL HOURS UNTIL THE COMPETITION ENDED AT 5PM. PIC DEPARTED WITH NO ISSUES. PIC ARRIVED AT KDVT WITH NO WEATHER OR WIND TO NOTE. PIC STATED HE WAS FEELING GOOD, CAME INTO LAND, FLARED WITH A SMALL BOUNCE, WHEN SUDDENLY THE AIRCRAFT BEGAN TO GROUND LOOP, CAUGHT A WINGTIP, AND FLIPPED OVER.

INVESTIGATION REVEALED PILOT HAS LENGTHY EXPERIENCE IN TRICYCLE GEAR AIRCRAFT AS AIRLINE CAPTAIN, BUT ONLY 42 HOURS IN HIS TAILWHEEL AIRCRAFT.  IN MY OPINION, RUDDER HIS USAGE SUFFERS FROM LEARNING INTERFERENCE AND PILOT IS A BIT LATE ON CORRECTIONS.  HE WAS NOT USED TO CONVENTIONAL RUDDER CORRECTIONS AS WHAT HE'S USED TO IN TRICYCLE GEAR.  MORE CFI TRAINING COULD HELP, BUT HE HAS DECLARED HE IS CONVERTING HIS PLANE TO A TRICYCLE VERSION.

CORRECTIVE ACTION: NO REGULATORY DEVIATION OCCURED. PIC IS IN THE PROCESS OF CONVERTING HIS AIRCRAFT TO TRICYCLE GEAR RATHER THAN CONVENTIONAL TO ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY OF FUTURE ISSUES. COUNSELING WAS ALSO COMPLETED BY ASI. I AM SATISFIED THE ROOT CAUSE HAS BEEN ADDRESSED AND THE AIRMAN IS RETURNED TO SAFE OPERATION.

## 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 WPR22LA108](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA108), Feb 20, 2022: Kitfox S7 (N1248), Phoenix, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s improper landing flare and subsequent failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion.

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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