# NTSB CEN24LA244: Desert Fox 1, N10ZR, Ellicott, CO, June 27, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 27, 2024, 12:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Ellicott, CO - Coordinates: 38.874031, -104.40893 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.8740&lon=-104.4089&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - 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 FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 194578 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA244 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194578/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194578 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA244 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to takeoff with a quartering tailwind and high density altitude which resulted in a runway overrun. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the right main axle mount due to the poor weld. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Douglas D Ritter DESERT FOX 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md?model=05636E3), [All aircraft, 278 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md) - [Inspection: preflight inspection](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Douglas D Ritter DESERT FOX 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md?model=05636E3), [All aircraft, 551 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061510/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main gear strut/axle/truck](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Douglas D Ritter DESERT FOX 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md?model=05636E3), [All aircraft, 86 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023213/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Part(s) separation from AC](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338); cases with it: [Douglas D Ritter DESERT FOX 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md?model=05636E3), [All aircraft, 563 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/338/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Douglas D Ritter DESERT FOX 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05636E3), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Douglas D Ritter DESERT FOX 1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05636E3), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that the airplane felt “sluggish” during the takeoff roll and the airplane bounced down the dirt runway. He said that he aborted the takeoff, the airplane would not turn right, and the airplane overran the end of the runway. Subsequently, the landing gear strut dug into the ground, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane’s fuselage, wings, and empennage were substantially damaged. An FAA inspector that responded to the accident reported that there was evidence of nine impact points from the right main wheel along the runway for about 60% of the runway length. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed that the right main landing gear axle mount had separated from the landing gear leg due to insufficient penetration of its weld. The insufficient weld likely reduced the overall strength of the landing gear, which resulted in its separation during the takeoff roll. About the time of the takeoff from runway 17L, density altitude was about 9,700 ft and the nearest reported winds 9 miles northwest of the accident site were from 270° at 11 knots gusting to 14 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N10ZR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N10ZR), registered now, S/N 01, built 2019 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Desert Fox 1 - Registry model: [Douglas D Ritter DESERT FOX 1](https://openairdocs.org/model/douglas-d-ritter-desert-fox-1) (registry code 05636E3) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental O-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-o-200-series) (registry code 17402, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 01 - Year built: 2019 - Airframe hours: 21 - Engines: Continental O200A 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, November 10, 2023, 10 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: CO4, Colorado Springs East, runway 17L, 4,500 × 42 ft, gravel - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, unknown; last flight review January 15, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 280 total, 21 in this make and model, 280 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 11 knots, gusting 14 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KFLY, 9 nm away - METAR: KFLY 271835Z AUTO 27011G14KT 10SM SCT120 31/07 A3006 RMK AO2 T03120073 ## 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 20240627008189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240627008189A), Jun 27, 2024: Douglas D Ritter DESERT FOX 1, Calhan, CO, Substantial damage. At approximately 1736Z, an amateur built expiremental desert fox aircraft attempted to takeoff from runway 17L, which is a dirt runway. Duriing the takeoff… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 22, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194578. 11.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 9.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17717769&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=N10ZR_NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20from%20Doug%20Ritter_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 3 photos, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17717861&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17747589&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Reinhart%20MOR-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.