# NTSB CEN10LA208: Reed William A Kitfox 4, N421KF, Baraboo, WI, April 15, 2010 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 15, 2010, 17:45 local (22:45 UTC) - Place: Baraboo, WI - Coordinates: 43.52222, -89.770835 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5222&lon=-89.7708&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern base: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA- Milwaukee FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 75796 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA208 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/75796/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75796 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA208 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to compensate for wind gusts and maintain sufficient airspeed, which resulted in a stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Reed William A KITFOX 4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05618MV), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Personnel issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Reed William A KITFOX 4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md?model=05618MV), [All aircraft, 137 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02060000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern base: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Reed William A KITFOX 4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05618MV), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Reed William A KITFOX 4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05618MV), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was diverting from the planned destination due to inclement weather along his route of flight. The pilot reported that during the approach to land, the airplane encountered wind gusts which resulted in the airplane stalling. The reported wind at the airport around the time of the accident indicated wind gusts from 13 to 23 knots. ## Factual narrative On April 15, 2010, about 1745 central daylight time, an amateur-built Kitfox 4 airplane, N421KF, piloted by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage while approaching to land at the Baraboo Wisconsin Dells Airport (DLL), Baraboo, Wisconsin. The airplane was being operated under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 and was in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot received serious injuries. The flight originated from the Poplar Grove Airport, Poplar Grove, Illinois, at an undetermined time and was en route to Stevens Point, Wisconsin. The pilot reported that adverse weather had moved into the area and he diverted to DLL. The pilot said that during the landing approach, the aircraft stalled due to a wind gust, lost altitude, and struck the ground. The winds at DLL about the time of the accident were 250 degrees at 13 knots gusting to 23 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N421KF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N421KF-2012-09-18), registration cancelled 2012-09-18, S/N 1421, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: REED WILLIAM A KITFOX 4 - Registry model: [Reed William A KITFOX 4](https://openairdocs.org/model/reed-william-a-kitfox-4) (registry code 05618MV) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1421 - Airframe hours: 733 - Engines: BOMBARDIER ROTAX (ALL) reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 12, 2009 - Departed: C77, Poplar Grove, IL - Destination: Stevens Point, WI - Airport: DLL, Baraboo/Wisconsin Dells Airpor, runway 32, 2,708 × 100 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 70; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review August 13, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 815 total, 733 in this make and model, 773 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 30 in the last 30 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 13 knots, gusting 23 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 10,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: DLL ## 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 20100415031979A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100415031979A), Apr 15, 2010: Reed Willia KITFOX 4, Baraboo, WI, Destroyed. Pilot and companion aircraft noticed a storm front approaching from the west. Initially heading for reedsburg, WI (C35)to land before storm reached them, they… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 1, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=75796. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40337482&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.