- Date
- July 18, 2017, 13:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Owyhee, OR
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N702KFSalerno Kenneth G JR Kitfox Series 7
- Defining event
- Takeoff: Loss of control on ground
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Status
- Completed · report November 14, 2017
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA/ FSDO
- FAA report
- 20170718010749A
- Case key
- 95622
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during takeoff from a rough, dirt airstrip.
Findings · 4
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the takeoff roll on a rough, dirt airstrip, the airplane encountered a "hump" and bounced prematurely. He added that, when the airplane touched back down, one of the tires hit a "rut," and the airplane veered left toward a tall sage brush. He further added that he "didn't correct direction properly" and attempted to rotate the airplane "early" to clear the sage brush, but the airplane's main landing gear impacted the sage brush, which resulted in a nose-over. The fuselage and left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during the takeoff roll on a rough, dirt airstrip, the airplane encountered a "hump" and bounced into the air prematurely. He added that, when the airplane touched back down, one of the tires hit a "rut" and the airplane veered left toward a tall sage brush. He further added that he "didn't correct direction properly" and attempted to rotate the airplane "early" to clear the sage brush, but the airplane's main landing gear impacted the sage brush, which resulted -in a nose over. The fuselage and left wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N702KF
- Reported as
- Salerno Kenneth G JR Kitfox Series 7 (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- S60102-049
- Built
- 2002
- Engine
- Rotax 914, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · October 15, 2016
- Departed
- 28U · Owyhee, OR
- Destination
- EUL · Caldwell, ID
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- 28U · Owyhee Reservoir State, runway 13, 1,840 × 30 ft, dirt
- Equipment
- Handheld GPS
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 59
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- August 8, 2016
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 1,315 total · 325 in this make and model · 1,245 as pilot in command · 10 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Dawn
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.94 inHg
- Observed at
- KEUL, 34 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 20, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 950 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.