# NTSB CEN12LA545: Dykas Kitfox Series 7, N646FD, Monroe, MI, August 13, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 12, 2012, 20:30 local (Aug 13, 2012, 00:30 UTC) - Place: Monroe, MI - Coordinates: 41.959621, -83.430313 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9596&lon=-83.4303&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 13, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 84688 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN12LA545 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/84688/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84688 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN12LA545 ## Probable cause The inadequate descent angle flown by the pilot during a final approach for landing, which resulted in an in-flight collision with a power line. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: descent/approach/glide path](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Dykas Frank J KITFOX SERIES 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md?model=05617Q3), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062040/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Dykas Frank J KITFOX SERIES 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05617Q3), [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. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Dykas Frank J KITFOX SERIES 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=05617Q3), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Dykas Frank J KITFOX SERIES 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05617Q3), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Dykas Frank J KITFOX SERIES 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05617Q3), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During an approach for landing, the airplane impacted a marked power line that was about 27 feet high and about 360 feet from the runway at a private airstrip. When the airplane contacted the power line, it descended and impacted terrain about 75 feet from the approach end of the runway. The pilot thought that the airplane was high enough to clear the power line and stated that the accident could have been prevented if he had flown a higher approach and payed more attention to the location of the power line. The pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction or failure with the airplane at the time of the accident. ## Factual narrative On August 12, 2012, about 2030 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Dykas Kitfox Series 7, N646FD, struck a power line during final approach to a private grass airstrip near Monroe, Michigan. The private pilot sustained serious injuries and a passenger sustained minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan had not been filed for the local flight that departed from the airstrip at 2015. The pilot stated that he took a family member for an airplane ride over his house. They circled over the house and returned to the departure airstrip. During the approach to the airstrip, the pilot thought he was high enough to clear the power line that was along the approach. The right main landing gear wheel contacted the power line, and the airplane descended and impacted the ground. The pilot stated that the accident could have been prevented by "giving more attention to the location of the wires and staying a little higher so [he] would be plenty high to clear them." The pilot stated that there was no mechanical malfunction/failure with the airplane at the time of the accident. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, the pilot was operating under a sport pilot certificate because his medical certificate, last issued in 2009, had not been denied. The FAA inspector stated that the airplane was on approach to the south runway when it struck a power line that was about 27 feet above ground level and 360 feet from the approach end of the runway. The poles that support the power line were equipped with unlighted cones. The airplane came to rest about 75 feet short of the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N646FD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N646FD-2018-02-20), registration cancelled 2018-02-20, S/N S70202-006, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Dykas Kitfox Series 7 - Registry model: [Dykas Frank J KITFOX SERIES 7](https://openairdocs.org/model/dykas-frank-j-kitfox-series-7) (registry code 05617Q3) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: S70202-006 - Airframe hours: 202 - Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, April 18, 2011 - Departed: PVT, Monroe, MI - Destination: Monroe, MI - Airport: PVT, Private, runway 18, 2,000 × 80 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 84; injuries: serious; private, sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review December 30, 2009; seat: left; flight hours: 752 total, 41 in this make and model, 724 as pilot in command, 0 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °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 20120812019519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120812019519A), Aug 12, 2012: Dykas Frank J KITFOX SERIES 7, Monroe, MI, Substantial damage. Pilot was low on approach to a private grass strip. The main wheel struck power lines that are 27' high and 360' from the end of the runway. The aircraft… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 30, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=84688. 960 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 910 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390441&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversation - FAA (item 2, .PDF, 50 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40390442&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-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.