# NTSB CEN27LA007: Kitfox III, N940J, Ward, AR, October 7, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Investigation open
- Date: October 7, 2026, 14:50 local (19:50 UTC)
- Place: Ward, AR · Smith Field Airport (34.969785, -91.831145)
- Coordinates: 34.969785, -91.831145 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9698&lon=-91.8311&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA - FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203966
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN27LA007
- Latest NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203966/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN27LA007

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Courtney Jimmy KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=056182Z), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Initial climb: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Courtney Jimmy KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=056182Z), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N940J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N940J), registered now, S/N 940, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Kitfox III (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Courtney Jimmy KITFOX III](https://openairdocs.org/model/courtney-jimmy-kitfox-iii) (registry code 056182Z) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 940
- Year built: 1991
- Airframe hours: 683
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, September 3, 2026
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: 64AR, Smith Fld, runway 18/36, 3,055 × 75 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter: 29.91 inHg
- Observed at: K4M3, 11 nm away
- METAR: METAR K4M3 071955Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM 31/09 A2991 RMK A01

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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