- Date
- November 20, 1995, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Pasadena, MD
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N86548Sellors Kitfox IV
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 29, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19951120038169A
- Case key
- 9117
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 improper (abrupt) application of brakes during the landing roll. Factors relating to the accicent were: the pilot's failure to attain the proper touchdown point during the landing, and his lack of experience in the make and model of airplane.
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.
Analysis
The pilot stated that the airplane was high on his first approach to the 1,700 foot long grass runway, so he performed a go-around. He reported that the second attempt was good, but during the landing flare, the airplane floated, and touched down about midfield on the runway. The pilot stated '...I applied brakes, being mindful of the trees at the end of the runway...the plane nosed over and flipped on its back.' Also, the pilot reported 21.9 hours of flight time in this make and model of airplane, of which only about 1 hour was as pilot-in-command.
Factual narrative
On November 20, 1995, at 1400 eastern standard time, a Sellors Kitfox IV, N86548, piloted by the owner/builder, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during the landing roll at Mountain Road Airport, in Pasadena, Maryland. The pilot, the sole occupant, reported no injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, no flight plan was filed. The flight operated under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from Easton, Maryland, approximately 1340.
The pilot stated that the airplane was high on final approach during the first attempt to land on the 1,700 foot long grass runway, so he elected to go around. He reported that the approach to landing was better on the second attempt, but during the landing flare the airplane floated down the runway, and touched down about midfield. The pilot stated: "At this point, I applied the brakes, being mindful of the trees at the end of the runway...the plane nosed over and flipped on its back."
The pilot stated there was no preimpact mechanical malfunction, and that the accident could have been prevented if he had slipped the airplane during final approach, in order "...to touch down at or near the runway threshold." The pilot reported that he had 138.7 hours total flight time. His written report indicated that he had flown 21.9 hours in the accident make and model airplane, of which 1 hour was as pilot-in-command.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N86548
- Reported as
- Sellors Kitfox IV
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 1810
- Engine
- Bombardier 582, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Sellors, James H.
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed
- ESN · Easton, MD
- Destination
- MD43
- Airport
- Mountain Road Airport, runway 21, 1,700 × 100 ft, grass/turf
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
- 67
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 139 total · 22 in this make and model · 71 as pilot in command · 22 in the last 90 days · 22 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 48 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.