# NTSB CEN12CA482: Nelson Miles Sky Star Kitfox, N4454U, Weatherford, TX, July 25, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 25, 2012, 07:00 local (12:00 UTC) - Place: Weatherford, TX - Coordinates: 32.741111, -97.676109 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.7411&lon=-97.6761&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 84467 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12CA482 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84467/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84467 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12CA482 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing flare. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s delay in aborting the landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Nelson Miles SKY STAR KITFOX S 5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=05606R3), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Nelson Miles SKY STAR KITFOX S 5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05606R3), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Nelson Miles SKY STAR KITFOX S 5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05606R3), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Nelson Miles SKY STAR KITFOX S 5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05606R3), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Nelson Miles SKY STAR KITFOX S 5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=05606R3), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Nelson Miles SKY STAR KITFOX S 5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05606R3), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings when the accident occurred. During the landing flare, the airplane drifted to the left of the runway centerline. The pilot overcorrected to the right before applying full power in an attempt to go around. The left main wheel contacted grass on the left side of the runway, and the airplane ground looped to the right. The firewall and the lower fuselage longerons sustained substantial damage. ## Factual narrative The pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings when the accident occurred. During the landing flare, the airplane drifted to the left of the runway centerline. The pilot over corrected to the right before applying full power in an an attempt to go-around. The left main wheel contacted grass on the left side of the runway and the airplane ground looped to the right. The pilot reported the lower fuselage longerons were bent between the landing gear mount and wing strut attach point, the firewall was buckled, and the left main landing gear was bent. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4454U](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4454U-2019-09-06), registration cancelled 2019-09-06, S/N S 9410-0057, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Nelson Miles Sky Star Kitfox (S 5) - Registry model: [Nelson Miles SKY STAR KITFOX S 5](https://openairdocs.org/model/nelson-miles-sky-star-kitfox-s-5) (registry code 05606R3) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: S 9410-0057 - Airframe hours: 212 - Engines: Jabiru 3300 120 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Paul D. Eisheid - Registered owner: Paul D. Eisheid - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 1, 2012, 12 hours before - Departed: KWEA, Weatherford, TX - Destination: KWEA, Weatherford, TX - Airport: KWEA, Parker County, runway 17, 3,289 × 40 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 48; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 9, 2012; seat: left; flight hours: 196 total, 10 in this make and model, 196 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.94 inHg - Observed at: KFTW, 19 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 20120725021759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120725021759A), Jul 25, 2012: Nelson Miles SKY STAR KITFOX S 5, Weatherford, TX, Substantial damage. The pilot was practicing takeoffs and landings when the accident occurred. During the landing flare, the airplane drifted to the left of the runway centerline.… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 8, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84467. 1.3 MB in all. - NTSB Form 6120.1-2, Pilot-Operator Aircraft Accident Report (item 1, .PDF, 186 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374269&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120.1-2,%20Pilot-Operator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Weather Reports and Records (item 2, .PDF, 49 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374270&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Reports%20and%20Records-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Cockpit area showing buckled firewall and lower fuselage longerons (item 3, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40374271&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Cockpit%20area%20showing%20buckled%20firewall%20and%20lower%20fuselage%20longerons-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. --- 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.