ATL95LA067

NTSB accident investigation · Wente Kitfox III · Moncks Corner, SC · March 19, 1995

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
March 19, 1995, 15:15 local (20:15 UTC)
Place
Moncks Corner, SC
Injuries
1 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N803BWWente Kitfox III
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report August 31, 1995
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19950319004369A
Case key
3535

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The pilot's selection of the wrong runway relative to the wind conditions and his failure to maintain alignment with the runway during the balked landing.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - in flightLanding - aborted
Weather condition - tailwind
Wrong runway - selectedPilot in commandCause
Proper alignment - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with terrain/waterLanding - aborted
Terrain condition - rough/uneven

Analysis

According to the pilot, during final approach for runway 23, the airplane descended abruptly from approximately 12-14 feet above the runway. The aircraft landed hard and bounced twice. Following the second bounce, the pilot applied full power to attempt a go-around. The aircraft ran off the runway edge, and the right wingtip struck a plowed field that was adjacent to the runway. The airplane cartwheeled. The pilot exited the plane and noted that the windsock was indicating a 10-14 knot tailwind for runway 23. The pilot/builder indicated that he had not noticed the windsock while on final approach. He also noted that there was no malfunction of the aircraft.

Factual narrative

On March 19, 1994, about 1515 eastern standard time, a home built airplane, Wente Kitfox III, N803BW, collided with the ground during an attempted aborted landing at the Berkeley County Airport, Moncks Corner, South Carolina. The airplane was operated by the owner/pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and visual flight rules. A flight plan was not filed for the personal flight. Origination of the flight was the Dorchestor County Airport, Summerville, South Carolina, about 1430, on the same day.

According to the pilot, during landing on runway 23, about 12-14 feet above touchdown, the airplane descended abruptly, landed hard, and bounced. After the bounce, the airplane touched down about 40 degrees off runway heading. The pilot stated that full power was applied to attempt a go-around, and the airplane overran the runway edge. During the attempted go-around, the right wing tip struck a plowed field that was adjacent to the runway, and the airplane cartwheeled. After exiting the airplane, the pilot noted that the wind sock was indicating a 10-14 knot tailwind for runway 23. The pilot stated that he did not notice the wind sock on final approach. The pilot, who is also a certified experimental aircraft builder, stated there was no malfunction of the airplane.

Aircraft

Registration
N803BW
Reported as
Wente Kitfox III
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
803
Airframe hours
113
Engine
Bombardier 582 UL, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Wente, Robert O.
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Continuous airworthiness · March 19, 1995 · 8 hours before
Departed
71S · Summerville, SC
Airport
50J · Berkely County, runway 23, 3,801 × 75 ft, asphalt

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
63
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Flight hours
213 total · 69 in this make and model · 176 as pilot in command · 14 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
80° at 10 knots, gusting 15
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
25,000 ft broken
Temperature
68 °F, dew point 46 °F
Altimeter
29.00 inHg
Observed at
CHS

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.