# NTSB ERA11LA336: Marks Ca III Kitfox II, N915PK, Scarborough, ME, June 10, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 10, 2011, 18:35 local (22:35 UTC) - Place: Scarborough, ME - Coordinates: 43.540832, -70.37722 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5408&lon=-70.3772&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious, 1 minor - Status: Completed, report August 29, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 80731 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA11LA336 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/80731/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80731 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA11LA336 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane while taking off with a gusting wind. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Marks C A III KITFOX II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05620UT), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on equipment; cases with it: [Marks C A III KITFOX II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05620UT), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Marks C A III KITFOX II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=05620UT), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Marks C A III KITFOX II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05620UT), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Marks C A III KITFOX II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05620UT), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting the airplane's first flight since it was purchased by the non-pilot passenger/owner about 4 months earlier. A preflight inspection revealed no anomalies, and the pilot taxied the airplane up and down the runway to familiarize himself with the flight controls. An engine run-up prior to takeoff further indicated no abnormalities. The pilot initiated the takeoff roll and the airplane became airborne about 500 to 800 feet down the turf runway. The airplane reached an altitude of about 100 feet before it turned right, descended, and then impacted the ground. The pilot reported that the airplane felt "sluggish" after takeoff and may have encountered a gust of wind but that he could not recall the specific accident sequence. An airport located 7 nautical miles from the accident site reported 12-knot wind, with gusts of up to 20 knots, which would have resulted in a slight tailwind condition during takeoff from the westerly-oriented runway. The owner stated that the airplane had not been flown in over a year prior to his purchasing it. Postaccident examination revealed no anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the engine. ## Factual narrative On June 10, 2011, about 1835 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Kitfox II, N915PK, was substantially damaged during takeoff from a private airstrip near Scarborough, Maine. The private pilot was seriously injured, and the passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight, which was conducted under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The passenger, who was also the owner of the airplane, was not a certificated pilot. He stated that the accident flight was the airplane's first flight since he had purchased it approximately 4 months prior. Since the pilot owned and flew an airplane similar to the accident airplane, the owner asked the pilot to conduct the flight. The pilot and passenger conducted a preflight inspection and taxied up and down the turf runway, which was oriented in a westerly direction, so that the pilot could familiarize himself with the flight controls. The pilot stated that they conducted an engine run-up prior to takeoff, which indicated no abnormalities, and the airplane became airborne approximately 500-800 feet down the runway. The airplane reached an altitude of about 100 feet before it turned right, descended, and then impacted the ground. According to the pilot, the airplane felt "sluggish" after takeoff and may have encountered a gust of wind, but he could not recall the specific accident sequence. Postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed substantial damage to the engine firewall, fuselage structure, and both left and right wings. Continuity was confirmed from all flight control surfaces to the cockpit area. Visual inspection of the engine revealed no anomalies. According to FAA records, the airplane was manufactured in 1993, and was equipped with a Rotax 582UL, 65 hp, reciprocating engine. The airplane had accumulated a total airframe time of 90 hours. Its most recent condition inspection was completed on February 18, 2011. The owner stated that the previous owner of the airplane had not flown the airplane in over one year. Additional examination of the engine was performed by a representative of the engine manufacturer under the supervision of an FAA inspector. The crankcase was impact-damaged, and the crankshaft could not be rotated by hand due to impact damage of the planetary gear rings located inside the gearbox. After removal of the gearbox, the crankshaft rotated freely. All four spark plugs displayed gaps that were slightly outside of the specifications set forth in the engine's maintenance manual. The carburetor bowls, filter, and fuel lines were absent of contamination and in good condition. The fuel and oil injection pumps exhibited no anomalies; however, the fuel mixture control was non-standard. The ignition system was found to be within specifications. A piece of steel wool was located inside the rotary valve,however, according to the engine manufacturer, it would not have had an adverse impact on engine performance. The pilot reported 620 hours total flight experience, and no experience in the accident airplane make and model. He reported no flight experience in the 90 days preceding the accident, and his most recent flight review was conducted in September 2005. The 1851 weather observation at Portland International Jetport (PWM), located about 7 nautical miles northeast of the accident site, included winds from 160 degrees at 12 knots with gusts to 20 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N915PK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N915PK-2017-10-06), registration cancelled 2017-10-06, S/N 709, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Marks CA III Kitfox II - Registry model: [Marks C A III KITFOX II](https://openairdocs.org/model/marks-c-a-iii-kitfox-ii) (registry code 05620UT) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 709 - Airframe hours: 90 - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Perry Fielding - Registered owner: Austin E Luce - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 18, 2011 - Departed: NA, Scarborough, ME - Destination: NA, Scarborough, ME - Airport: NA, Private ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: serious; sport pilot, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: sport pilot; last flight review September 6, 2005; seat: left; flight hours: 620 total, 0 in this make and model, 415 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 160° at 12 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg - Observed at: PWM, 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 20110610012559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110610012559A), Jun 10, 2011: Marks C A III KITFOX II, Scarborough, ME, Destroyed. While performing high speed taxing, the aircraft became airborne and encountered a crosswind gust. The pilot stated the controls were "sluggish", but the… ## Other investigations on N915PK (1) 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. - [NTSB MIA96LA087](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA96LA087), Feb 24, 1996: Marks Kitfox II (N915PK), Panama City, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: the pilot's improper recovery from a bounced landing, and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane, which resulted in an inadvertent ground swerve and subsequent collision with a… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 3, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=80731. 2.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 842 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365089&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record - FAA Inspector (item 2, .PDF, 88 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365593&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20FAA%20Inspector-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Airplane Owner (item 3, .PDF, 92 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40366655&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Airplane%20Owner-Master.PDF - FAA Engine Teardown Summary (item 4, .PDF, 317 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365090&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Engine%20Teardown%20Summary%20-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Rotax Engine Teardown Notes (item 5, .PDF, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365091&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Rotax%20Engine%20Teardown%20Notes-Master.PDF - Photograph # 1 - View of airplane ait came to rest (Courtesy Scarborough Police Dept) (item 6, .PDF, 1.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40365094&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photograph%20%23%201%20-%20View%20of%20airplane%20ait%20came%20to%20rest%20(Courtesy%20Scarborough%20Police%20Dept)-Master.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.