# NTSB CEN20CA277: Kitfox Kitfox Sport, N702KS, Rand, CO, July 12, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 12, 2020, 08:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Rand, CO - Coordinates: 40.543334, -106.193885 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.5433&lon=-106.1939&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA - Denver FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101585 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA277 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101585/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101585 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA277 ## Probable cause The encounter with the downdrafts during the attempted takeoff, which resulted in decreased airplane's climb performance and subsequent impact with terrain. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Miller Frank C/O ETG KITFOX SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=05614JZ), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Miller Frank C/O ETG KITFOX SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=05614JZ), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Miller Frank C/O ETG KITFOX SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=05614JZ), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/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 lift](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500) (defining event); cases with it: [Miller Frank C/O ETG KITFOX SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md?model=05614JZ), [All aircraft, 252 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/500/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that during the flight he noticed the oil pressure gauge fluctuating and executed a precautionary landing to a road to examine the engine. He stated that after landing, he performed a walk around inspection of the airplane, which included looking for leaks and checking the oil level and security of the oil cap. Finding no anomalies, he proceeded to take off from the road. During takeoff and while the airplane was gaining airspeed in ground effect, the departure path went over a terrain depression and into a down sloping bowl; the airplane encountered a sudden sink/down flow of air and lost about 10-15 ft of altitude. The pilot attempted to turn toward lower terrain while maintaining airspeed but the sink/down flow of air continued and so he maneuvered to land the airplane in a meadow. Unable to reach the meadow, he turned the airplane into sloping terrain to minimize the impact energy. During the impact, the airplane sustained damage to both wings, the fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions, and noted that the fluctuating oil pressure gauge was likely due to the sending unit location on the engine and associated vibration or a loose ground connection. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that during the flight he noticed the oil pressure gauge fluctuating and executed a precautionary landing to a road to examine the engine. He stated that after landing, he performed a walk around inspection of the airplane, which included looking for leaks and checking the oil level and security of the oil cap. Finding no anomalies, he proceeded to take off from the road. During takeoff and while the airplane was gaining airspeed in ground effect, the departure path went over a terrain depression and into a down sloping bowl; the airplane encountered a sudden sink/down flow of air and lost about 10-15 ft of altitude. The pilot attempted to turn toward lower terrain while maintaining airspeed but the sink/down flow of air continued and so he maneuvered to land the airplane in a meadow. Unable to reach the meadow, he turned the airplane into sloping terrain to minimize the impact energy. During the impact, the airplane sustained damage to both wings, the fuselage, and empennage.The pilot reported that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions, and noted that the fluctuating oil pressure gauge was likely due to the sending unit location on the engine and associated vibration or a loose ground connection. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N702KS](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N702KS-2021-06-03), registration cancelled 2021-06-03, S/N SPO204001, built 2002 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Kitfox KITFOX SPORT (No Series) - Registry model: [Miller Frank C/O ETG KITFOX SPORT](https://openairdocs.org/model/miller-frank-c-o-etg-kitfox-sport) (registry code 05614JZ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: SPO204001 - Year built: 2002 - Airframe hours: 783 - Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, July 14, 2019 - Departed: GNB, Granby, CO - Destination: 33V, Walden, CO - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 29, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 475 total, 375 in this make and model, 385 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.38 inHg - Observed at: 33V, 14 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 20200712012179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200712012179A), Jul 12, 2020: Miller Frank C/O Etg KITFOX SPORT, Rand, CO, Destroyed. On 07/12/2020 at 09:35 MDT, N702KS a kit fox 7 sport aircraft, was destroyed after take off from a blm road parallel to jackson county road 21 near Rand,… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101585. 2.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10000982&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 222 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=10002907&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo-Rel.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.