# NTSB CEN23LA171: Kitfox IV, N440RS, Gretna, NE, May 4, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 3, 2023, 19:00 local (May 4, 2023, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Gretna, NE - Coordinates: 41.096728, -96.283711 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0967&lon=-96.2837&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) - 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): 107812 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN23LA171 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/107812/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107812 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA171 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain during a turn immediately after takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: incorrect action sequence](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Schoennauer Rene M KITFOX IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020/cases.md?model=05618ED), [All aircraft, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Schoennauer Rene M KITFOX IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=05618ED), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) (defining event); cases with it: [Schoennauer Rene M KITFOX IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=05618ED), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while taking off from an off-airport site, he turned too early before gaining enough altitude, and the right wing contacted the ground. The pilot lowered the left wing and the airplane’s left tire “contacted the ground sideways.” The wheel sheared off and the left wing contacted the ground which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation ## Aircraft - Registration: [N440RS](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N440RS), registered now, S/N 1440 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Kitfox IV - Registry model: [Schoennauer Rene M KITFOX IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/schoennauer-rene-m-kitfox-iv) (registry code 05618ED) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1440 - Year built: 1993 - Airframe hours: 650 - Engines: Rotax 912UL 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Tc Flight LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, January 15, 2023, 40 hours before - Departed: NONE, Gretna, NE - Destination: KAHQ, Wahoo, NE - Airport: NA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 5, 2022; seat: left; flight hours: 2,900 total, 100 in this make and model, 85 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 29.90 inHg - Observed at: KAHQ, 16 nm away - METAR: KAHQ 032155Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 24/M03 A2990 RMK AO2 T02351033 ## 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 20230503013199A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230503013199A), May 3, 2023: Schoennauer Rene M KITFOX IV, Gretna, NE, Substantial damage. The aircraft was performing an off-airport takeoff from a grass field, the take off field was 700' long and take off direction was to the south in the… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 29, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=107812. 19.3 MB in all. - Photos (item 1, PDF, 3 pages, 3 photos, 14.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15502707&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 11 pages, 4.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=15502793&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-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.