# NTSB CEN22LA254: Kitfox Model 2, N596JW, San Marcos, TX, June 4, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 4, 2022, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: San Marcos, TX
- Coordinates: 29.5557, -97.5178 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5557&lon=-97.5178&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: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 105277
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN22LA254
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/105277/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105277
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN22LA254

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll.

## 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: [Webb John A JR OD KITFOX MODEL 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056161N), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Webb John A JR OD KITFOX MODEL 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=056161N), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Action: incorrect action performance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Webb John A JR OD KITFOX MODEL 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md?model=056161N), [All aircraft, 1,386 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041015/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-landing roll: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Webb John A JR OD KITFOX MODEL 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=056161N), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Webb John A JR OD KITFOX MODEL 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=056161N), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Webb John A JR OD KITFOX MODEL 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=056161N), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Abrupt maneuver](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270); cases with it: [Webb John A JR OD KITFOX MODEL 2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md?model=056161N), [All aircraft, 346 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/270/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the landing roll the airplane veered slightly to the right, and he overcorrected. The airplane ground looped, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the right-wing tip struck the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N596JW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N596JW), registered now, S/N 596 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Kitfox Model 2 (596)
- Registry model: [Webb John A JR OD KITFOX MODEL 2](https://openairdocs.org/model/webb-john-a-jr-od-kitfox-model-2) (registry code 056161N) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 596
- Year built: 1990
- Airframe hours: 610
- Engines: Rotax UL58290 64 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal; Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, September 4, 2021
- Departed: KHYI, San Marcos Regional Airport, TX
- Airport: KHYI, San Marcos Rgnl, runway 08, 6,330 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 29, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 187.6 total, 39.3 in this make and model, 140.4 as pilot in command, 3.9 in the last 90 days, 1.6 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 80° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 19 °F
- Altimeter: 29.83 inHg
- Observed at: KHYI
- METAR: METAR KHYI 041856Z 08004KT 10SM CLR 32/19 A2983 RMK AO2 SLP093 T03170189=

## 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 20220604009669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220604009669A), Jun 4, 2022: Webb John A Jr Od KITFOX MODEL 2, San Marcos, TX, Substantial damage. On June 4 , 2022 at 14:30 CDT, a Kitfox model 2, experimental aircraft suffered substantial damage after the pilot lost control during landing/touchdown and…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 24, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=105277. 2.8 MB in all.

- Photo array (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 878 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14200638&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf
- Pilot operator aircraft accident report form 6120.1/2 (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14317751&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1%20-%20Redacted%20Second-Rel.pdf
- Pilot's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 156 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14318819&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement%20Redacted-Rel.pdf
- FAA inspector's statement (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 115 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14317968&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20Statement-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.

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