# NTSB CEN22LA133: Kitfox 4-1200, N494KF, Woodstock, TX, February 27, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 27, 2022, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Woodstock, TX - Coordinates: 33.579925, -94.422579 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.5799&lon=-94.4226&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - 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: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 104718 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA133 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104718/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104718 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA133 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain proper airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Gould Paul 4-1200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=05624D5), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Gould Paul 4-1200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05624D5), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Gould Paul 4-1200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=05624D5), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Gould Paul 4-1200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05624D5), [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. - [Initial climb: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Gould Paul 4-1200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05624D5), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot departed from a river sand bar, and shortly after takeoff the airplane encountered an unexpected left quartering tailwind. The pilot reported that the airplane’s left wing stalled, which induced a spin at a low altitude. The airplane’s left wing and forward left fuselage impacted the shallow river water and sustained substantial damage. Since the accident, the airplane washed away in the river current and has not been located. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N494KF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N494KF-2023-07-08), registration cancelled 2023-07-08, S/N 1857, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Kitfox 4-1200 - Registry model: [Gould Paul 4-1200](https://openairdocs.org/model/gould-paul-4-1200) (registry code 05624D5) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1857 - Year built: 1994 - Airframe hours: 385 - Engines: Rotax reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Destination: ATA, Atlanta, TX - Airport: n/a - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 38; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review June 5, 2020; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 451 total, 13 in this make and model, 393 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: 10° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 54 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.31 inHg - Observed at: KTXK, 23 nm away - METAR: KTXK 272353Z 01004KT 10SM CLR 12/M03 A3031 RMK AO2 SLP266 T01171028 10139 20094 55005 ## 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 20220227022159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220227022159A), Feb 27, 2022: Gould Paul 4-1200, New Boston, TX, Substantial damage. On February 27, 2022, at approximately 1800 central daylight time, Kitfox 4-2100,[privacy data omitted], was performing landings and takeoffs from sandbars on… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 18, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104718. 2.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13408819&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Accident site photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 170 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13408666&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.