- Date
- May 24, 2008, 12:20 local (17:20 UTC)
- Place
- FlyingBar Ranch, MO
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N108KXKitfox IV 1200
- Defining event
- Initial climb: Loss of control in flight
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report June 30, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20080524838219A
- Case key
- 68083
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper decision to takeoff with a quartering tailwind and failure to maintain aircraft control. Contributing to the accident were the gusting tailwind and operating the airplane near maximum gross weight.
Findings · 6
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The private pilot and non-rated passenger were departing the airfield on runway 24. After becoming airborne they encountered several wind gusts. The pilot failed to control the airplane causing the float-equipped airplane to catch one of the floats in the trees at the departure end of the runway. The airplane nosed over and impacted the ground. The pilot was not injured, the passenger received minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage frame forward of the cockpit. The pilot stated the airplane was being operated near maximum gross weight and that there was a quartering tailwind with gusts occurring during the takeoff.
Factual narrative
The private pilot and non-rated passenger were departing the airfield on runway 24. After becoming airborne they encountered several wind gusts which the pilot said "pushed the plane down and to the left." The float-equipped airplane caught one of the floats in the trees off the departure end of the runway and the airplane nosed over and impacted the ground. The pilot was not injured, the passenger received minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage frame forward of the cockpit. The pilot reported that the maximum gross weight for the airplane was 1,200 pounds and the weight at the time of the accident was 1,191 pounds. The pilot stated the winds were variable at ten knots with gusts to 15 knots. At 1152 Central Daylight Time (CDT), the reported winds at Springfield, MO (KSGF), 8 miles east of the accident site, were 060 degrees at 16 knots, gusting to 21 knots. Winds at KSGF at 1252 CDT were 090 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 21 knots.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N108KX
- Reported as
- Kitfox IV 1200
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 1908
- Engine
- Rotax 912ul, 80 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Kennith Hiller
- Registered owner
- Lenair Corporation
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 2008
- Departed
- M02 · FlyingBar Ranch, MO
- Airport
- m02 · Dummy, runway 24, 2,640 × 70 ft, grass/turf
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 45
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 2, Without waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,500 total · 24 in this make and model · 1,400 as pilot in command · 90 in the last 90 days · 35 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 60° at 16 knots, gusting 21
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.98 inHg
- Observed at
- SGF
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.