What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Mesa, AZ (ffz): privacy data omitted, Kitfox IV, ffz-ffz. The aircraft ground-looped while landing runway 4R. The aircraft veered off to the left while on the runway. There were 2 people on board, and there were no injuries. The damage to the aircraft was substantial. On 02/14/2024, at 1720Z, 1020MST, while on its maiden flight test, the aircraft landed and the tail wheel bounced several times, the right wing dipped down and then came back level with all tires on the ground. The aircraft then veered aggressively to the left and off the runway, looping into the field. The aircraft came to rest on the right wing, damaging the wing spar, wing covering, and the right main gear.
As the FAA filed it
MESA, AZ (FFZ): ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, KITFOX IV, FFZ-FFZ. THE AIRCRAFT GROUND-LOOPED WHILE LANDING RUNWAY 4R. THE AIRCRAFT VEERED OFF TO THE LEFT WHILE ON THE RUNWAY. THERE WERE 2 PEOPLE ON BOARD, AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIAL. ON 02/14/2024, AT 1720Z, 1020MST, WHILE ON ITS MAIDEN FLIGHT TEST, THE AIRCRAFT LANDED AND THE TAIL WHEEL BOUNCED SEVERAL TIMES, THE RIGHT WING DIPPED DOWN AND THEN CAME BACK LEVEL WITH ALL TIRES ON THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT THEN VEERED AGGRESSIVELY TO THE LEFT AND OFF THE RUNWAY, LOOPING INTO THE FIELD. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON THE RIGHT WING, DAMAGING THE WING SPAR, WING COVERING, AND THE RIGHT MAIN GEAR.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.