# NTSB ERA25LA257: Yates Tom W Kitfox III, N11TY, Greenville, KY, July 4, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 3, 2025, 19:32 local (Jul 4, 2025, 00:32 UTC) - Place: Greenville, KY - Coordinates: 37.228983, -87.151916 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.2290&lon=-87.1519&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 14, 2025 - 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): 200458 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA257 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200458/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200458 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA257 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of control during takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Yates Tom W KITFOX 3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05625KD), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Yates Tom W KITFOX 3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05625KD), [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: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Yates Tom W KITFOX 3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05625KD), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Yates Tom W KITFOX 3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05625KD), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Yates Tom W KITFOX 3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05625KD), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the experimental amateur-built airplane reported that during takeoff, the tailwheel-equipped airplane began to veer to the right. He pulled the throttle back and the airplane briefly went left, then the right wing lifted, and the airplane drifted right again. The airplane went off the left side of the runway and nosed over, which resulted in substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. A postaccident examination revealed that the left main landing gear had twisted 90 degrees, and the normally outboard face of the wheel was facing aft. Whether the damage to the left main landing gear precipitated or was a result of the runway excursion was not determined. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N11TY](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N11TY), registered now, S/N 001 TY, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: YATES TOM W Kitfox III - Registry model: [Yates Tom W KITFOX 3](https://openairdocs.org/model/yates-tom-w-kitfox-3) (registry code 05625KD) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 001 TY - Year built: 1994 - Airframe hours: 197.6 - Engines: Rotax 912UL 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 2, 2025, 0.5 hours before - Airport: M21, Muhlenberg County, runway 24, 4,999 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Handheld GPS, Electronic primary flight display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 82; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, without waivers/limitations; last flight review November 19, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,525 total, 65 in this make and model, 1,525 as pilot in command, 0.5 in the last 90 days, 0 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: HVC, 27 nm away - METAR: KHVC 040015Z AUTO 00000KT 9SM CLR 29/20 A3002 RMK AO2 ## 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 20250703013449A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250703013449A), Jul 3, 2025: Yates Tom W KITFOX 3, Greenville, KY, Substantial damage. During departure takeoff roll, the left main tire turned 90 degress resulting in the aircraft making a left turn off the runway where it pitched down and ended… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 14, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200458. 2.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 309 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19195133&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 2, PDF, 6 pages, 983 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19193065&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector statement (item 3, PDF, 2 pages, 963 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19383207&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FAA%20IIC%20Inspector%20visit%20to%20Greenville-Rel.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.