# NTSB ERA09CA285: Richard Rank KitFox 4, N248DR, Madison, MS, May 9, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 9, 2009, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Madison, MS - Coordinates: 32.43861, -90.103057 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4386&lon=-90.1031&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 9, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73807 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA285 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73807/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73807 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA285 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during an aborted formation takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Rank Richard C KITFOX IV 1200 SPDST, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=05607ZQ), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Rank Richard C KITFOX IV 1200 SPDST, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05607ZQ), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Rank Richard C KITFOX IV 1200 SPDST, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05607ZQ), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Rank Richard C KITFOX IV 1200 SPDST, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05607ZQ), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was departing from runway 17 about 75 yards behind another airplane in tandem formation. During the takeoff roll, the lead airplane aborted the takeoff. The second airplane was near rotation speed when the pilot aborted the takeoff as well. Wanting not to get too close to the lead airplane, he departed the runway off the left side. The airplane became airborne, stalled, and the left wing tip impacted the ground, spinning the airplane and resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated he was departing from runway 17 behind another airplane in tandem formation. During the take off roll, the lead airplane aborted the takeoff; they had about 75 yards of separation. His airplane was near rotation speed when he aborted the takeoff as well. Wanting not to get too close to the lead airplane, he departed the runway off the left side. The airplane became airborne, stalled, and the left wing tip impacted the ground, spinning the airplane, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N248DR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N248DR-2010-04-05), registration cancelled 2010-04-05, S/N ACS112, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Richard Rank KitFox 4 (1200) - Registry model: [Rank Richard C KITFOX IV 1200 SPDST](https://openairdocs.org/model/rank-richard-c-kitfox-iv-1200-spdst) (registry code 05607ZQ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: ACS112 - Engines: Bombardier-Rotax 582 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Tony R Clark - Registered owner: Tony R Clark - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: MBO, Madison, MS - Destination: MBO, Madison, MS - Flight plan: Unknown - Airport: MBO, Madison, runway 17, 4,444 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; flight hours: 650 total, 250 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft broken - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.97 inHg - Observed at: JAN, 7 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20090509019959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090509019959A), May 9, 2009: Amtr KITFOXIV1200, Madison, MS, Substantial damage. On Saturday 09,2009 approximately 1600 local time N248DR were attempting to takeoff in a tandem formation from the Madison, MS airport (kmbo) on rwy 17. During… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 23, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=73807. 64 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 9 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314241&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Reports from Federal Agencies: Pilot's Statement to FAA Inspector. (item 2, .PDF, 55 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40314242&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Reports%20from%20Federal%20Agencies%3A%20Pilot%27s%20Statement%20to%20FAA%20Inspector.-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.