# NTSB CEN17LA001: Drake Kitfox Speedster, N157D, Jennings, LA, October 1, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 1, 2016, 13:00 local (18:00 UTC)
- Place: Jennings, LA
- Coordinates: 30.242221, -92.671386 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2422&lon=-92.6714&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report January 25, 2018
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 94125
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN17LA001
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/94125/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94125
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17LA001

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed during takeoff, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and subsequent aerodynamic stall.

## 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: [Drake KITFOX SPEEDSTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=059003K), [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.

- [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Drake KITFOX SPEEDSTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=059003K), [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: [Drake KITFOX SPEEDSTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=059003K), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The private pilot stated that, during the initial climb after takeoff, he checked the airspeed and lowered the airplane's nose. He reported that the airplane rolled to the right, which he corrected, then the airplane "abruptly" rolled to the left. He was unable to correct the roll, and the airplane descended and impacted terrain. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions of the airplane. A witness reported that the airplane was airborne in a wings level, "very high" nose-up attitude when he first saw it. He stated that, after a few seconds, the left wing and the nose dropped. Shortly after that, the right wing dropped, the nose-down attitude increased, and the airplane impacted terrain. A video of the accident corroborated the witness account. The witness's recollection of the accident, along with the video of the accident airplane just before the accident, suggest that the pilot exceeded the airplane's critical angle of attack during the initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

## Factual narrative

On October 1, 2016, at 1300 central daylight time, an experimental light sport, amateur-built Drake Kitfox Speedster, N157D, collided with the terrain following a loss of control after takeoff from the Jennings Airport (3R7), Jennings, Louisiana. The pilot received serious injuries. The airplane was substantially damaged. The airplane was registered to and operated by the private pilot under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the flight, which was not operated on a flight plan. The intended destination was Slaughter Airpark (SL77), Slaughter, Louisiana.The pilot reported that he was the last airplane in a flight of four to takeoff. He stated he verified his altitude and airspeed, and retracted the flaps during the takeoff. He stated he checked the airspeed, lowered the nose of the airplane, and resumed the climb. The pilot reported the airplane rolled to the right, which he corrected, then the airplane "abruptly" rolled to the left. He was unable to correct the roll and the airplane descended to impact with the terrain. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures/malfunctions of the airplane. A witness reported the airplane was airborne in a wings level, "very high" nose up attitude when he first saw it. He stated that after a few seconds the left wing dropped and the nose lowered. Shortly after that, the right wing dropped and the airplane nosed down even more until it impacted the terrain. A video posted on YouTube by furley85 showed the airplane climbing out in a steep, nose-high attitude after takeoff. The airplane was a couple hundred feet above the grass airstrip when the left wing dropped and the nose lowered. The airplane rolled back through wings level then the right wing dropped and the airplane impacted the terrain. The airplane received substantial damage to the wings and fuselage.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N157D](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N157D-2018-03-22), registration cancelled 2018-03-22, S/N SGD007, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DRAKE KITFOX SPEEDSTER
- Registry model: [Drake KITFOX SPEEDSTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/drake-kitfox-speedster) (registry code 059003K) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912UL series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul-series) (registry code 55571, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: SGD007
- Year built: 2005
- Airframe hours: 734
- Engines: Rotax 912UL 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, July 20, 2016
- Departed: 3R7, Jennings, LA
- Destination: LS77, Slaughter, LA
- Airport: 3R7, Jennings, runway 17, 1,977 × 150 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: Handheld GPS, Onboard weather

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 25, 2015; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 399.2 total, 135 in this make and model, 340.7 as pilot in command, 10.3 in the last 90 days, 3.9 in the last 30 days, 1.5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 50° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observed at: 3R7

## 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 20161001016119A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20161001016119A), Oct 1, 2016: Drake KITFOX SPEEDSTER, Jennings, LA, Destroyed. The aircraft was departing north on grass runway 35. The aircraft became airborne at 700 ft. 1100 Feet down the rumway at approximately 75FT AGL the aircraft's…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 27, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=94125. 3.2 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 385 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457388&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Witness Statement (item 2, .PDF, 126 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457389&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Master.PDF
- Video File (item 3, MP4, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457390&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=Video%20File-Master
- Video Description (item 4, .PDF, 17 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40457391&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Video%20Description-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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