# NTSB ERA20CA083: Denney Kitfox, N4283V, Wauchula, FL, January 18, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 18, 2020, 10:30 local (15:30 UTC) - Place: Wauchula, FL - Coordinates: 27.514999, -81.880554 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.5150&lon=-81.8806&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report July 27, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 100845 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA083 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100845/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100845 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA083 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper landing flare in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a bounced landing, and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a runway excursion and nose-over. ## 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: [Conti Horace Charles KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056189H), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Conti Horace Charles KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=056189H), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Conti Horace Charles KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=056189H), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Conti Horace Charles KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=056189H), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/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: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Conti Horace Charles KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=056189H), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Conti Horace Charles KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=056189H), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Conti Horace Charles KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=056189H), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Conti Horace Charles KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=056189H), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Conti Horace Charles KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056189H), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Conti Horace Charles KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=056189H), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was conducting a crosswind landing. The airplane touched down, bounced slightly, settled, and it then veered off the right side of the runway onto grass, struck a light, flipped over, and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder and the fuselage forward of the horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation and that a gusting crosswind existed during the touchdown. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was conducting a crosswind landing on runway 36, in the tailwheel-equipped experimental, amateur-built airplane. The airplane touched down, bounced slightly, settled, and then veered off the right side of the runway. It struck a light, then flipped over in the grass and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder and the fuselage forward of the horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The nearest weather reporting station, located 29 miles east of the airport, reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 110° at 14 knots. The pilot reported that the wind was from 270° at 8 knots gusting to 14 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4283V](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4283V), registered now, S/N 770 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Denney KITFOX (III) - Registry model: [Conti Horace Charles KITFOX III](https://openairdocs.org/model/conti-horace-charles-kitfox-iii) (registry code 056189H) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 770 - Year built: 2003 - Engines: Rotax 528LC 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 9, 2019 - Departed: 48X, Palmetto, FL - Destination: CHN, Wauchula, FL - Airport: CHN, Wauchula Muni, runway 36, 4,005 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: minor; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine sea; medical: sport pilot; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 115 total, 42 in this make and model, 61 as pilot in command, 42 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.36 inHg - Observed at: SEF, 29 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 20200118003629A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200118003629A), Jan 18, 2020: Conti Horace Charles KITFOX III, Wauchula, FL, Substantial damage. When landing on runway 36 at Wauchula FL (kchn), which is a non-towered airport, the pilot experienced a runway excursion while landing with a starboard,… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 7, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100845. 5.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483522&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record – FAA Inspector Interview (item 2, .PDF, 132 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483523&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20%E2%80%93%20FAA%20Inspector%20Interview%20-Master.PDF - Investigation Photographs (item 3, .PDF, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483524&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs%20-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.