# NTSB CHI04LA207: Skystar Kitfox, N197BR, Westfield, IN, August 3, 2004

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 2, 2004, 19:35 local (Aug 3, 2004, 01:35 UTC)
- Place: Westfield, IN
- Coordinates: 40.048332, -86.613334
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0483&lon=-86.6133&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report May 30, 2006
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: INDIANAPOLIS FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE
- NTSB case key (mKey): 60246
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI04LA207
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60246/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI04LA207

## Probable cause

the failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed resulting in a stall.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, landing - flare/touchdown
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, descent - uncontrolled

## Analysis

The aircraft made two bounced landings and the right wing stalled and struck the runway.

## Factual narrative

On August 2, 2004 at 1935 central standard time, an amateur-built Skystar Kitfox Series 5 airplane, N197BR, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged during landing on runway 18 at the Westfield Airport, Westfield, Indiana. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time.  The pilot, the only occupant, was not injured.  The flight departed Westfield Airport for a local flight about five minutes before the accident.

The pilot reported the weather was good with ten miles visibility and winds from the southwest at 2 knots.  The pilot was conducting short field landing practice and bounced twice and lost airspeed.  The aircraft stalled to the right and the right wing struck the ground.  The pilot's safety recommendations were "increased airspeed on final"

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N197BR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N197BR), registered now, S/N S9602-0173, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: SKYSTAR KITFOX
- Registry model: [Ostendorf Robert Lee KITFOX SERIES 5](https://openairdocs.org/model/ostendorf-robert-lee-kitfox-series-5) (registry code 05604AQ) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912UL series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul-series) (registry code 55571, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 9602-0173
- Airframe hours: 291
- Engines: Rotax 912VL 80 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Alton E. Purcifull, Jr.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, December 1, 2003, 21 hours before
- Departed: WESTFIELD, IN
- Destination: I7Z, WESTFIELD, IN
- Airport: I72, Westfield, runway 18, 3,000 × 100 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2; last flight review February 1, 2003; seat: left; flight hours: 275 total, 18 in this make and model, 218 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 225° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles

## 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 20040802028849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040802028849A), Aug 2, 2004: Amtr KITFOXSERIE5, Westfield, IN, Substantial damage. (-23) Pleasure flight was being conducted into the Westfield Indiana airport (I72) with the pilot practicing short-field pilot techniques. He stated that he…

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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