# NTSB CHI96LA084: Connell Kitfox, N99SV, Omaha, NE, January 27, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 27, 1996, 14:46 local (20:46 UTC) - Place: Omaha, NE - Coordinates: 41.260559, -96.180488 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.2606&lon=-96.1805&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 9, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 10192 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI96LA084 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/10192/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI96LA084 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate preflight of the aircraft and the frozen left landing gear wheel. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,wheel - frozen (cause) - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis During landing the airplane veered left and could not be corrected. The airplane then impacted a snowbank on the side of the runway and nosed over. The left wheel fairing was found completely packed with snow. Once the snow was removed the wheel rotated freely. The pilot stated that the snow apparently had accumulated in the wheel fairing when he taxied through snow drifts earlier prior to departing the North Omaha airport for Denison. While landing at Denison, the airplane had pulled to the right. During the return trip to the North Omaha airport, the pilot realized that his left brake was probably frozen, and decided to divert to the Eppley Airfield because of the wider runway there. ## Factual narrative On January 27, 1996, at 1446 central standard time (cst), a Fitfox, N99SV, owned and operated by a private pilot, veered to the left, struck a snowbank, and nosed over while executing a landing at Eppley Airfield, Omaha, Nebraska. The airplane received substantial damage. The private pilot and passenger reported no injuries. The 14 CFR Part 91 was operating in visual meteorological conditions. No flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Dennison Municipal Airport, Dennison, Iowa, at 1300 cst. From the pilot's written and telephone interview conducted on March 19, 1996, he stated that while taxiing at the North Omaha Airport the airplane went through some snow drifts and apparently snow accumulated in the left wheel fairing. Upon landing at Dennison Airport in Iowa, the airplane pulled to the right. The pilot compensated by applying opposite rudder and brakes. After a brief stop, the pilot needed full power to break loose. The pilot thought that the wheel was frozen to the pavement. While flying back to North Omaha Airport, the pilot realized that his left brake was probably frozen and decided that he would divert to Eppley Airfield because of the wider runway there. The pilot stated, "...Upon landing the left wheel was completely frozen and no amount of right brake would correct our left veer off the runway. We were nearly stopped when the mains hit the 2 1/2 foot wall of plowed snow which had iced to a solid mass on the side of the runway 32R. N99SV pitched up on its nose striking the prop and eventually fell over landing on its tail. In my opinion once the airplane took off from Dennison it was very unlikely, under the circumstances, that a safe landing could have been achieved... ." The pilot said that the left wheel fairing was packed with snow. Once the snow was removed the wheel rotated freely with no mechanical problems. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N99SV](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N99SV), registered now, S/N 1409, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CONNELL KITFOX - Registry model: [Harless Ron KITFOX IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/harless-ron-kitfox-iv) (registry code 05620VX) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 609 - Airframe hours: 270 - Engines: ROTAX 912 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Connell, Evan K. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Unknown, May 1, 1995 - Departed: DNS, DENNISON, IA - Destination: OMA - Airport: OMA, Eppley Airfield, runway 32R, 4,060 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 292 total, 113 in this make and model, 185 as pilot in command, 29 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 350° at 4 knots - Visibility: 14 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 16 °F, dew point -0 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: OMA ## 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 19960127001069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960127001069A), Jan 27, 1996: Amtrdf KITFOX, Omaha, NE, Substantial damage. Veered off runway on landing roll. Struck a frozen iced over snowbank. Left wheel jammed by snow in wheel pant. 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.