- Date
- July 27, 2013, 07:15 local (12:15 UTC)
- Place
- Grinnell, IA
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N84SDDean David E Kitfox Classic 4
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 2, 2013
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Central Region
- Parties
- FAA Flight Standards District Office
- FAA report
- 20130727014639A
- Case key
- 87629
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot did not maintain control of the airplane while landing with a crosswind.
Findings · 1
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
During the landing on runway 31, the flight encountered a crosswind from the right. Subsequently the airplane ground looped and nosed over. The fuselage and firewall were wrinkled. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
During the landing on runway 31 (5,200 feet by 75 feet, concrete), the flight encountered a crosswind from the right. Subsequently the airplane ground looped and nosed over. The fuselage and firewall were wrinkled. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N84SD
- Reported as
- Dean David E Kitfox Classic 4
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 001
- Airframe hours
- 56
- Engine
- Rotec 2800, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · October 12, 2012
- Departed
- KGGI · Grinnell, IA
- Destination
- KGGI · Grinnell, IA
- Airport
- KGGI · Grinnell Regional Airport, runway 31, 5,200 × 75 ft, concrete
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 56
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- February 9, 2012
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 625 total · 45 in this make and model · 625 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 6 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 54 °F, dew point 50 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.06 inHg
- Observed at
- KGGI
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 14, 2013, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.0 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.