# NTSB CEN24LA262: Skystar Kitfox, N1078P, Hackney, KS, July 12, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 12, 2024, 14:21 local (19:21 UTC)
- Place: Hackney, KS
- Coordinates: 37.172389, -97.034052 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.1724&lon=-97.0341&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: 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): 194688
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN24LA262
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194688/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194688
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA262

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in a gusting wind condition.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Performance/control parameters: crosswind correction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Petsche Tim KITFOX SERIES 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md?model=05614RJ), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Petsche Tim KITFOX SERIES 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05614RJ), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Petsche Tim KITFOX SERIES 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05614RJ), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/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: [Petsche Tim KITFOX SERIES 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=05614RJ), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Petsche Tim KITFOX SERIES 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05614RJ), [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: [Petsche Tim KITFOX SERIES 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=05614RJ), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Petsche Tim KITFOX SERIES 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=05614RJ), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Petsche Tim KITFOX SERIES 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05614RJ), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Petsche Tim KITFOX SERIES 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05614RJ), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that during the landing roll in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, a gust of wind picked up the right wing. He attempted to correct with full right aileron, rudder, and full power to initiate a go-around. The pilot stated that he aborted the go-around, and the airplane ground looped and exited the left side of the runway. During the ground loop, the left wing struck the ground which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing, its lift strut, and the fuselage. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the airplane on runway 17 with wind from 180° at 16 knots, gusting to 25 knots. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1078P](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1078P-2025-11-08), registration cancelled 2025-11-08, S/N S60111-068, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SKYSTAR KITFOX (SERIES 7)
- Registry model: [Petsche Tim KITFOX SERIES 7](https://openairdocs.org/model/petsche-tim-kitfox-series-7) (registry code 05614RJ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: S60111-068
- Year built: 2004
- Airframe hours: 533
- Engines: Rotax 914 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, January 22, 2024, 26 hours before
- Departed: 1K1, Benton, KS
- Destination: WLD, Hackney, KS
- Airport: WLD, Strother Field Airport, runway 17, 5,506 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Onboard weather, Stall warning system, ADS-B, Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, Angle of attack indicator

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review November 3, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 658.5 total, 165 in this make and model, 600 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 1.4 in the last 30 days, 1.4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 180° at 16 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 100 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Icing: Unknown
- Turbulence: Unknown
- Observed at: KWLD
- METAR: KWLD 121954Z AUTO 18016G25KT 10SM CLR 38/21 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP135 T03780211

## 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 20240712010529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240712010529A), Jul 12, 2024: Petsche Tim KITFOX SERIES 7, Winfield, KS, Substantial damage. On 07/12/2024 an Petsche Tim/kitfox series 7 was conducting landings on runway 17 at Strother Field, Winfield, Kansas at approximately 14:21 local time. The…

## Other investigations on N1078P (1)

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.

- [NTSB SEA04LA130](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04LA130), Jul 9, 2004: Petsche Kitfox Kitfox 7 (N1078P), Arlington, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind condition and failure to maintain directional control while landing. A factor contributing to the accident was a direct crosswind.

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 30, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194688. 4.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17512391&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Accident%20Report%20form%20CEN24LA262_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 3 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17423002&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs%20CEN24LA262-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17424675&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Interview%20CEN24LA262-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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