BFO96LA025

NTSB accident investigation · Sellors Kitfox IV · Pasadena, MD · November 20, 1995

Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
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.

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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.

Nose overLanding - roll
Proper touchdown point - not attainedPilot in commandFactor
Brakes(normal) - improper use ofPilot in commandCause
Lack of total experience in type of aircraftPilot in commandFactor

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.