# NTSB CEN10LA266: Hall Thomas K Kitfox Speedster, N211ES, Defiance, OH, May 23, 2010

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: May 23, 2010, 15:35 local (19:35 UTC)
- Place: Defiance, OH
- Coordinates: 41.70861, -84.374725 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7086&lon=-84.3747&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 12, 2010
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 76108
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN10LA266
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/76108/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76108
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN10LA266

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane while performing low-altitude maneuvers.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hall Thomas K KITFOX SPEEDSTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056011U), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Hall Thomas K KITFOX SPEEDSTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=056011U), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Hall Thomas K KITFOX SPEEDSTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=056011U), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Hall Thomas K KITFOX SPEEDSTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056011U), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot was performing low-level passes over a pond when the accident occurred. A video shot by a witness shows the airplane at or below treetop height during the maneuvers. The pilot reported that when he was climbing after the last pass the airplane developed a sink rate that increased until the airplane contacted the ground. The aircraft fuselage was bent during the impact and the passenger suffered a serious injury. The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane and witnesses reported hearing the engine until the airplane impacted the ground.

## Factual narrative

On May 23, 2010, at 1535 eastern daylight time, an amateur-built Hall Kitfox Speedster, N211ES, collided with the terrain following a loss of control while performing low-level passes near a residence in Defiance, Ohio. The pilot was not injured and the passenger received serious injuries. The Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The flight originated from the Defiance County Airport (DFI), Defiance, Ohio, at about 1500. During a telephone interview the pilot stated he made a couple of approaches to a field near a friend’s house because his passenger wanted to take some pictures. He stated when the airplane reached an altitude of about 300 feet above the ground after the last approach, it developed a sink rate. He stated the sink rate continued to increase and he located a small clearing in which to land the airplane. He stated the airplane touched down in a level attitude at which time the landing gear collapsed. He stated he was descending to an altitude of about 100 feet above the ground during the approaches. In his written statement the pilot reported he made 3 to 4 practice landing approaches to a farm field using a right hand traffic pattern. At the end of the last approach, the pilot felt a “negative ‘G’” on the airplane while it was in a wings level climb, 10 to 15 degrees nose up, with full power at an altitude of 500 to 600 feet above the ground. He reported the descent rate increased and he was able to maintain “forward speed.” He reported, “…I noticed trees coming up on the right, I made the decision to execute emergency landing procedures.” During the first impact with the ground the main landing gear collapsed and during the second impact, damaged the aircraft fuselage. The pilot reported no mechanical deficiencies with the airplane. The passenger reported to local authorities that they were flying circles over the house when the airplane lost power and descended impacting the terrain. A witness reported seeing the airplane make a low pass from south to north over a neighbor’s pond. The airplane circled to the east and appeared to be climbing “very slowly.” He stated the airplane then appeared to be losing altitude as it headed directly toward his house. The airplane “turned quickly” to the east and contacted the ground. He stated the airplane was about treetop level during the maneuver and he heard the engine until the airplane impacted the ground. Another witness videotaped the airplane until 30 seconds before the accident. This witness reported, “The pilot was flying well below 100ft-150ft. The pilot was dive bombing over the pond showing off to his friends. ... The pilot pulled up to miss the trees. He pulled up too steep and caused the plane to stall making the plane drop out of the sky.” Screen shots of the video show the airplane maneuvering at tree top level behind a residence. The pilot purchased the airplane in December 2009,however, it was still registered to the previous owner. The pilot reported having a total flight time of 90.5 hours, with 9.2 hours in this make and model airplane.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N211ES](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N211ES), registered now, S/N 021 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HALL THOMAS K KITFOX SPEEDSTER
- Registry model: [Hall Thomas K KITFOX SPEEDSTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/hall-thomas-k-kitfox-speedster) (registry code 056011U) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 582UL DCDI](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ul-dcdi) (registry code 55563, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 021
- Airframe hours: 133
- Engines: BOMBARDIER ROTAX (ALL) 80 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Paul A. Drasutis
- Registered owner: Jere Wallack
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, May 7, 2010
- Departed: DFI, Defiance, OH
- Destination: 0G6, Bryan, OH

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 20, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 91 total, 9 in this make and model, 38 as pilot in command, 14 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: variable at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observed at: DFI, 6 nm away

## 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 20100523045009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20100523045009A), May 23, 2010: Hall Thomas KITFOX SPEE, Defiance, OH, Substantial damage. Aircraft crashed while maneuvering at low altitude. Witnesses on the scene reported that the pilot made 3 passes over the property directly next to where the…

## Docket (9 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 1, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=76108. 14.5 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40330836&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF
- Pilot Interview Statement (item 2, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331634&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20Interview%20Statement-Master.PDF
- FAA Interview Statements (item 3, .PDF, 175 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331633&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Interview%20Statements-Redacted.PDF
- Ohio State Highway Patrol Report (item 4, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40332146&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Ohio%20State%20Highway%20Patrol%20Report-Redacted.PDF
- Photo 01. Video Snapshot of N211ES. (item 5, .PDF, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331635&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2001.%20Video%20Snapshot%20of%20%20N211ES.-Master.PDF
- Photo 02. Video Snapshot of N211ES. (item 6, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331636&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2002.%20%20Video%20Snapshot%20of%20%20N211ES.-Master.PDF
- Photo 03. Video Snapshot of N211ES. (item 7, .PDF, 1.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331637&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%2003.%20%20Video%20Snapshot%20of%20N211ES.-Master.PDF
- Aerial View of Accident Location with Flightpath (item 8, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331639&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aerial%20View%20of%20Accident%20Location%20with%20Flightpath-Master.PDF
- Aerial View South of Accident Site (item 9, .PDF, 3.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331640&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Aerial%20View%20South%20of%20Accident%20Site-Master.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.

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