DFW05LA053

NTSB accident investigation · Myers Kit Fox Series VI · Cleveland, OK · January 10, 2005

Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
January 10, 2005, 16:50 local (22:50 UTC)
Place
Cleveland, OK
Injuries
1 serious
Damage
Destroyed
Phase of flight
Initial climb
Aircraft
N982KFMyers Kit Fox Series VI
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report April 28, 2005
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
Oklahoma City FSDO
FAA report
20050110000049A
Case key
60834

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain control and sufficient airspeed while performing an abrupt pull-up manuever after takeoff, which resulted in an inadvertent stall/spin.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - in flightTakeoff - initial climb
Low pass - performedPilot in command
Pull-up - abruptPilot in commandCause
Aircraft control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Airspeed - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
Stall/spin - inadvertentPilot in commandCause
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Terrain condition - ground

Analysis

The home-built experimental airplane was performing touch and go landings. One witness, who was located on airport property, observed the airplane flying "very low" to the ground at a "high rate of speed" (in ground effect) parallel to the runway. As the airplane reached the end of the runway, it "climbed steeply," started a left turn, and "spun" nose first into the ground. In a written statement, the 389-hour private pilot reported that he did "not have any recollection of the accident due to a head injury and/or medications." An FAA inspector, who examined the wreckage at the accident site, reported that the horizontal stabilator and electric trim for pitch control did not exhibit pre-impact anomalies. Additionally, a check of flight control cable continuity did not reveal abnormalities other than impact damage.

Factual narrative

On January 10, 2005, approximately 1650 central standard time, a Myers Kit Fox Series VI homebuilt-experimental airplane, N982KF, registered to and operated by a private individual, was substantially damaged during impact with terrain following a loss of control after takeoff from the Cleveland Municipal Airport (95F), near Cleveland, Oklahoma. The private pilot, who was the sole occupant of the airplane, was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight originated from the Westport Airpark (4F1), near Tulsa, Oklahoma, at 1615.

According to witnesses near the airport, the airplane was observed performing touch and go landings on runway 18 at 95F. One witness, who was located on airport property, observed the airplane flying "very low" to the ground at a "high rate of speed" (in ground effect) parallel to the runway. The witness added that as the airplane reached the end of the runway, it "climbed steeply," started a left turn, and "spun" nose first into the ground. There was no post-impact fire.

In a written statement, the 389-hour private pilot reported that he did "not have any recollection of the accident due to a head injury and/or medications." Data provided by the pilot revealed that he had accumulated a total of 27 hours in the same make and model aircraft.

An FAA inspector, who examined the wreckage at the accident site, reported that the horizontal stabilator and electric trim for pitch control did not exhibit pre-impact anomalies. Additionally, a check of flight control cable continuity did not reveal any abnormalities other than impact damage. Structural damage to the left wing and cabin area was observed.

At 1650, the automated weather observing system at the Richard Lloyd Jones Jr. Airport (RVS), located approximately 27 miles southeast of the accident site, reported wind from 210 degrees at 7 knots, 10 statute miles visibility, few clouds at 28,000 feet, temperature 66 degrees Fahrenheit, dew point 57 degrees Fahrenheit, and a barometric pressure setting of 29.87 inches of Mercury.

Aircraft

Registration
N982KF
Reported as
Myers Kit Fox Series VI
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
50004-023
Airframe hours
122
Engine
Continental O-200A, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Jeffrey Myers & Dennis Scarberry
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · October 25, 2004 · 10 hours before
Departed
4F1 · Tulsa, OK
Destination
OK
Airport
95F · Cleveland Municipal Airport

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
49
Injuries
Serious
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
Last flight review
June 26, 2004
Seat
Left
Flight hours
389 total · 26 in this make and model · 346 as pilot in command · 11 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
210° at 7 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
66 °F, dew point 57 °F
Altimeter
29.87 inHg
Observed at
RVS, 27 nm away

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.