# NTSB GAA16CA085: Kelm David Kitfox 7, N35KF, Tracy, CA, December 12, 2015

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: December 12, 2015, 14:50 local (22:50 UTC)
- Place: Tracy, CA
- Coordinates: 37.678054, -121.301391 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.6781&lon=-121.3014&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report February 8, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA Oakland FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 92474
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA085
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/92474/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92474
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA085

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the landing, which resulted in a hard landing, runway excursion and impact with terrain.

## 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: [Kelm David KITFOX 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=059021R), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: pitch control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Kelm David KITFOX 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/cases.md?model=059021R), [All aircraft, 526 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062022/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Kelm David KITFOX 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=059021R), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Kelm David KITFOX 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=059021R), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Kelm David KITFOX 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=059021R), [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: [Kelm David KITFOX 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=059021R), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490); cases with it: [Kelm David KITFOX 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=059021R), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that while conducting a touch-and-go landing in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, he "flared too high, touching down fairly hard." He reported that he attempted to abort the landing, the airplane departed the runway to the left, and the nose of the airplane impacted the ground coming to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot reported that while conducting a touch-and-go landing in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, he "flared too high, touching down fairly hard." He reported that he attempted to abort the landing, the airplane departed the runway to the left, and the nose of the airplane impacted the ground coming to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N35KF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N35KF-2020-06-04), registration cancelled 2020-06-04, S/N 570311046, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: KELM DAVID KITFOX 7 (NO SERIES)
- Registry model: [Kelm David KITFOX 7](https://openairdocs.org/model/kelm-david-kitfox-7) (registry code 059021R) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 570311046
- Year built: 2007
- Airframe hours: 411
- Engines: ROTAX 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Deford, David L.
- Registered owner: Deford, David L.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, March 28, 2015
- Departed: LVK, LIVERMORE, CA
- Destination: 1Q4, Tracy, CA
- Airport: 1Q4, New Jerusalem, runway 30, 3,530 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Onboard weather, Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; last flight review September 20, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 739 total, 42 in this make and model, 606 as pilot in command, 5 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 310° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 41 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observed at: KSCK, 13 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 20151212022879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20151212022879A), Dec 12, 2015: Kelm David KITFOX 7, Tracy, CA, Substantial damage. Pilot departed lvk for pattern work at 1Q4. Pilot performed 3 touch and go's on rwy 30. During landing phase of 4th touch and go pilot lost operational control…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 28, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=92474. 4.1 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436173&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (Courtesy of Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40436174&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20Pilot)-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.

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