# NTSB CHI87DEX01: Turnbloom Kitfox, N371DT, Crawfordsville, IN, November 9, 1986

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Final report
- Date: November 9, 1986, 17:20 local (22:20 UTC)
- Place: Crawfordsville, IN
- Coordinates: 40.040218, -86.889022 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.0402&lon=-86.8890&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 13605
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI87DEX01
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/13605/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI87DEX01

## Sequence of events

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

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause)
  - inadequate training, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - procedures/directives - not followed, pilot in command
  - qualification, pilot in command
  - miscellaneous - undetermined (cause)
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - aircraft handling - uncontrolled
- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff

## Analysis

THE PLT RPRTD THAT WHEN HE WAS PREPARING FOR THE ACFT'S 1ST TEST FLT, HE MADE A HI SPEED RUN WITH THE TAIL RAISED & ACFT CONTROL WAS GOOD. ON THE NEXT RUN, HE PLANNED TO LET THE ACFT LIFT OFF THE RWY, THEN LET IT SETTLE BACK ON THE SURFACE. HE STATED THAT HE APPLIED FULL THROTTLE, & AFTER THE ACFT ROLLED APRX 100', IT 'LIFTED OFF AT A HIGH ANGLE OF CLIMB, FULL FORWARD ELEVATOR & THROTTLE REDUCTION BROUGHT THE AIRCRAFT TO LEVEL FLIGHT, 20-30' ABOVE RUNWAY.'  THE ACFT THEN BGN TO ROLL & SUBSEQUENTLY NOSED DOWN & IMPACTED THE GND ABOUT 75' OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. THE PLT WAS WEAR- ING A SHOULDER HARNESS & WAS NOT INJURED, BUT THE ACFT WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED (AFT FUSELAGE/EMPENNAGE BADLY BENT BTN THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT & HORIZONTAL STABILIZER). THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF CONTROL WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE STUDENT PLT HAD NO PREVIOUS FLT TIME IN THIS MAKE & MODEL OF ACFT & WAS NOT ENDORSED FOR THE FLT.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N371DT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N371DT-1989-01-17), registration cancelled 1989-01-17, S/N 37 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: TURNBLOOM KITFOX
- Registry model: [Turnbloom David E KITFOX](https://openairdocs.org/model/turnbloom-david-e-kitfox) (registry code 05613SV) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 37
- Engines: BOMBARDIER ROTAX 503 52 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: David E. Turnbloom
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, October 9, 1986, 0 hours before
- Airport: CFJ, Crawfordsville, runway 22, 4,000 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 38; student; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 92 total, 25 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: calm
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F

## 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 19861109054039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19861109054039A), Nov 9, 1986: Amtrdf KITFOX, Crawfordsville, IN, Substantial damage. The aircraft flipped over after an abort. The student was not endorsed to fly the homebuilt aircraft.

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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