# NTSB BFO96LA025: Sellors Kitfox IV, N86548, Pasadena, MD, November 20, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 20, 1995, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Pasadena, MD - Coordinates: 39.109603, -76.550918 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.1096&lon=-76.5509&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9117 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO96LA025 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9117/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO96LA025 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - roll - proper touchdown point - not attained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - brakes(normal) - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## 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](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N86548-1998-12-31), registration cancelled 1998-12-31, S/N 1810 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SELLORS KITFOX IV - Registry model: [Sellors James H KITFOX IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/sellors-james-h-kitfox-iv) (registry code 05626HH) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1810 - Engines: 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 ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 19951120038169A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951120038169A), Nov 20, 1995: Amtrdf KITFOX, Pasadena, MD, Substantial damage. High on first approach to short runway. Went around. Floated next try. Landed mid field. Braked. Nosed over. 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.