# NTSB CHI08LA185: Traxler John N Kitfox, N767JD, Hartford, CT, July 8, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 8, 2008, 10:15 local (14:15 UTC) - Place: Hartford, CT - Coordinates: 41.741844, -72.65075 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7418&lon=-72.6508&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 12, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District office - NTSB case key (mKey): 69027 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI08LA185 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/69027/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=69027 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI08LA185 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to compensate for crosswinds resulting in a loss of directional control while landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience and training in tailwheeled airplanes. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Traxler John N KITFOX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05620JG), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Traxler John N KITFOX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=05620JG), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Traxler John N KITFOX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=05620JG), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/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: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) (defining event); cases with it: [Traxler John N KITFOX, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05620JG), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings with a passenger in his experimental tailwheel-equipped airplane. On the fourth touch and go, the pilot decided to land on a different runway with a mild crosswind, where he veered off the right side of the runway. He tried to conduct a go-around, but departed the right side of the runway and hit a taxiway sign, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot's written statement suggested that his inexperience in tailwheel aircraft was likely the root cause and that additional training in tailwheel aircraft was appropriate. ## Factual narrative On July 8, 2008, approximately 1015 eastern daylight time, an experimental Kitfox 2 Airplane, N767JD, veered off the right side of runway 29 and struck a taxiway sign at the Hartford-Brainard Airport, Hartford Connecticut, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The Airline Transport Certificated pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and the flight was being operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The local flight was for the purpose of practicing takeoffs and landings in the tailwheel airplane. On the fourth touch and go, the pilot decided to land on a different runway with a mild crosswind and veered off the right side of the runway and hit a taxiway sign. The pilot tried to correct for the veer by using full left command to the rudder. When he wasn't successful, he then attempted a go around with full power. However he went into the grass, which bogged down the acceleration of the airplane before he could get airborne, and the airplane struck a taxiway sign. The pilot's statement says that his inexperience in tailwheel aircraft was likely the root cause and additional training in tailwheel aircraft was called for. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N767JD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N767JD), registered now, S/N 672, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TRAXLER JOHN N KITFOX - Registry model: [Traxler John N KITFOX](https://openairdocs.org/model/traxler-john-n-kitfox) (registry code 05620JG) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 582UL](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-582ul) (registry code 55558, 2 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 672 - Airframe hours: 246 - Engines: ROTAX 582UL 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Dill Jeffrey R - Registered owner: Dill Jeffrey R - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 29, 2008 - Departed: HFD, HARTFORD, CT - Destination: HFD, HARTFORD, CT - Airport: HFD, Hartford-Brainard Airport, runway 29, 2,314 × 71 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; flight instructor, airline transport, flight engineer, military; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 18, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 14,000 total, 25 in this make and model, 7,100 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 68 °F - Observed at: KHFD ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 25, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=69027. 582 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 582 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40331973&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.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.