# NTSB CEN20CA196: Denney Kitfox Speedster, N580LD, Georgetown, TX, May 26, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 26, 2020, 10:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Georgetown, TX - Coordinates: 30.678888, -97.68 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.6789&lon=-97.6800&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration; San Antonio FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101331 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA196 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101331/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101331 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA196 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Howes Fred M KITFOX SPEEDSTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05626P1), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Howes Fred M KITFOX SPEEDSTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05626P1), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot stated that during the personal flight he intended to stay in the airport traffic pattern and performed a touch-and-go landing. He said that he flew a normal approach with wing flaps halfway extended and 60 knots indicated airspeed (KIAS). Over the runway numbers, the pilot slowed the airplane to 55 KIAS and began a landing flare. The pilot said he thought the three-point landing was good, but the airplane made a hard-left turn. The airplane departed the left side of the runway into soft turf. The right wing struck terrain and the airplane nosed over resulting in substantial damage. The pilot reported there was no mechanical malfunction/failure with the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N580LD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N580LD), registered now, S/N HBS043 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Denney KITFOX SPEEDSTER (IV1200) - Registry model: [Howes Fred M KITFOX SPEEDSTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/howes-fred-m-kitfox-speedster) (registry code 05626P1) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: HBS043 - Year built: 1998 - Engines: Rotax 912UL 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Pilot - Registered owner: Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 1, 2019, 1,026 hours before - Departed: GTU, Georgetown, TX - Destination: GTU, Georgetown, TX - Airport: GTU, Georgetown Municipal Airport, runway 36, 5,004 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Angle of attack indicator ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 28, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 352 total, 33 in this make and model, 300 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 8,500 ft broken - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 66 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: GTU ## 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 20200526020499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200526020499A), May 26, 2020: Howes Fred M KITFOX SPEEDSTER, Georgetown, TX, Substantial damage. On may 26, 2020, at approximately 10:15 hours, a fred Howes Kitfox speedstar [privacy data omitted] a and operated by [privacy data omitted], crashed on runway… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 29, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101331. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484970&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 139 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484971&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.