# NTSB ERA12CA078: Bray Verle G JR Kitfox IV 1200, N6844B, Bunn, NC, November 20, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 20, 2011, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Bunn, NC - Coordinates: 35.933612, -78.246391 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.9336&lon=-78.2464&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 27, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 82346 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA078 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/82346/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82346 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA078 ## Probable cause The pilot did not attain a proper touchdown point while attempting to land with a tailwind and delayed his decision to abort the landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bray Verle G JR KITFOX IV 1200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=05626QP), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bray Verle G JR KITFOX IV 1200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=05626QP), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Wind: tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Bray Verle G JR KITFOX IV 1200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md?model=05626QP), [All aircraft, 594 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) (defining event); cases with it: [Bray Verle G JR KITFOX IV 1200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=05626QP), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Landing-aborted after touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Bray Verle G JR KITFOX IV 1200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05626QP), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis During the attempted landing, the airplane "floated some" and touched down on the 2,500-foot turf runway near the midpoint with insufficient distance remaining to stop. The pilot then increased engine power and aborted the landing but felt that the engine was not producing full power. The pilot maneuvered the airplane in an attempt to avoid trees beyond the departure end of the runway, but the airplane struck the trees in a level attitude, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and both wings. A witness reported observing the airplane intermittently during the attempted landing and said that, when he first saw the airplane, it had traveled a significant distance down the runway. He then heard the airplane's engine power increase, watched as it climbed in a shallow right turn, and realized that the airplane would not be able to clear the 25-foot tall trees beyond the end of the runway. Both the witness and a weather reporting station 7 nautical miles from the accident site reported that an approximate 6-knot tailwind prevailed about the time of the accident. Examination of the airframe and engine found no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures. ## Factual narrative The pilot intended to practice takeoffs and landings at several local airports, and entered the traffic pattern to land on runway 04, the 2,500-foot long, turf runway. During the attempted landing, the airplane "floated some" and touched down near the runway midpoint with insufficient distance remaining to stop. The pilot then increased engine power and aborted the landing, but felt that the engine was not producing full power. The pilot maneuvered the airplane in an attempt to avoid trees beyond the departure end of the runway, but subsequently struck the trees in a level attitude, resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and both wings. A witness reported intermittently observing the airplane during the attempted landing, and when he first saw the airplane, it had traveled a significant distance down the runway. He then heard the airplane's engine power increase, watched as it climbed in a shallow right hand turn, and realized that the airplane would not be able to clear the 25-foot tall trees beyond the end of the runway. The witness and a weather reporting station located 7 nautical miles from the accident site reported that an approximate 6-knot tailwind prevailed about the time of the accident. Federal Aviation Administration inspectors examined the airframe and engine following the accident, and found no evidence of any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6844B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6844B-2018-01-08), registration cancelled 2018-01-08, S/N 1802, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BRAY VERLE G JR KITFOX IV 1200 - Registry model: [Bray Verle G JR KITFOX IV 1200](https://openairdocs.org/model/bray-verle-g-jr-kitfox-iv-1200) (registry code 05626QP) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Subaru ALL MDLS A/B](https://openairdocs.org/engine/subaru-all-mdls-a-b) (registry code 59050, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1802 - Airframe hours: 171 - Engines: SUBARU ALL MDLS A/B 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, November 18, 2011 - Departed: LHZ, Louisburg, NC - Destination: 7NC5, Bunn, NC - Airport: 7NC5, Crooked Creek Airport, runway 04, 2,500 × 80 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 30, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 6,623 total, 15 in this make and model, 6,145 as pilot in command, 83 in the last 90 days, 28 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.34 inHg - Observed at: LHZ, 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 20111120027439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20111120027439A), Nov 20, 2011: Bray Verle G Jr KITFOX IV 1200, Bunn, NC, Substantial damage. The pilot landed long, about mid field or more on the uphill portion of the runway, a go-around was initiated and the aircraft became airborne, banking to the… ## Docket (8 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 26, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=82346. 7.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 649 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359404&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 39 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359405&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - Witness Statement (item 3, .PDF, 140 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359406&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Witness%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector's Statement (item 4, .PDF, 25 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359407&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Statement-Redacted.PDF - FAA Inspector's Engine Exam Notes (item 5, .PDF, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360712&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=FAA%20Inspector%27s%20Engine%20Exam%20Notes-Master.PDF - Accident Site Diagram (Courtesy of FAA) (item 6, .PDF, 241 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359411&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Site%20Diagram%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 1 - Wreckage From Front Left (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 7, .PDF, 4.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40359414&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20-%20Wreckage%20From%20Front%20Left%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2 - Engine From Top (Photo Courtesy of FAA) (item 8, .PDF, 2.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40360715&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20%202%20-%20Engine%20From%20Top%20(Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.