# NTSB ERA23LA080: James R Dernovsek Kitfox, N257ED, Woodsfield, OH, December 5, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 5, 2022, 10:52 local (15:52 UTC) - Place: Woodsfield, OH - Coordinates: 39.779028, -81.10315 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.7790&lon=-81.1031&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106421 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA23LA080 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106421/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106421 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA23LA080 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## 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) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after touchdown, the airspeed decreased, and the tailwheel settled onto the runway. He applied brakes and recalled the airplane’s nose pulled to the left about 20 or 30 degrees. He applied right rudder and right brake to correct the direction, but the airplane exited the runway to the left, traveled up a berm and became airborne. The right wing then impacted terrain and rotated the airplane 180 degrees, before it came to rest on the main landing gear. Examination of the wreckage by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The inspector examined the airplane’s brakes and found that both functioned normally. He also examined the tires and saw that neither exhibited flat spots and that the tire marks on the runway appeared to be from a rolling (and not skidding) right tire. Based on this information, it is likely that the pilot lost directional control of the airplane during the landing. ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N257ED](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N257ED-2024-10-12), registration cancelled 2024-10-12, S/N V95030029, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: JAMES R DERNOVSEK KITFOX (S5) - Registry model: [James R Dernovsek KITFOX S5](https://openairdocs.org/model/james-r-dernovsek-kitfox-s5) (registry code 05635X4) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: V95030029 - Year built: 2018 - Airframe hours: 347 - Engines: Rotax 912is 120 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Ferry, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, November 24, 2022, 10 hours before - Departed: 9N7, Fredrickburg, PA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 4G5, Monroe County, runway 25, 3,805 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: minor; airline transport, flight engineer, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 13, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 20,000 total, 8 in this make and model, 19,500 as pilot in command, 40 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.10 inHg - Observed at: ZZV, 38 nm away - METAR: METAR KZZV 051553Z AUTO 19006KT 10SM CLR 03/M04 A3010 RMK AO2 SLP201 T00281044= ## 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 20221205021959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221205021959A), Dec 5, 2022: James R Dernovsek KITFOX S5, Woodsfield, OH, Substantial damage. Landed rwy 7/25 and veered off the left side of the runway. Acft then went up a small embankment and came to rest near an airport building. No damage reported… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 7, 2023, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106421. 14.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 12 pages, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14856944&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120_N257ED_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot interview (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 262 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14856375&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20For%20Record%20ERA23LA080%20PIC%20interview-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector interview (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 137 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14857655&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20FAA%20Interview_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 4, PDF, 3 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14856506&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Investigative%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - Accident video sequence (item 5, MP4, 10.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14856337&FileExtension=mp4&FileName=Video-Rel.mp4 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.