GAA17CA517

NTSB accident investigation · Jeff Jardine Kitfox S7 Supersport · Kanab, UT · September 4, 2017

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
September 4, 2017, 14:00 local (20:00 UTC)
Place
Kanab, UT
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Landing
Aircraft
N682PSJeff Jardine Kitfox S7 Supersport
Defining event
Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report November 27, 2017
Report
Approved by Office Director
NTSB office
General Aviation Accidents
Parties
FAA/ FSDO
FAA report
20170904024739A
Case key
95943

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 landing and the airplane’s subsequent failure to attain a climb rate during an attempted go-around in high-density altitude conditions.

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 reported that, after a local flight, during touchdown, the airplane veered to the left, and he applied full power to go around. He added that the airplane became airborne, drifted to the left over brush, and then started to sink because the airplane "did not have enough airspeed to maintain flight." Subsequently, the airplane settled into the brush about 50 ft left of the runway. The left wing struck the ground, and the airplane spun 180° to a stop. The left wing and aileron sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station 23 nautical miles southwest of the accident site reported, about the time of the accident, wind from 320° at 12 knots, gusting to 15 knots, temperature 100°F (38°C), dewpoint 41°F (5°C), and barometric setting of 30.15 inches of mercury. The calculated density altitude was 8,352 ft. According to the Federal Aviation Administration density altitude Koch Chart, the airplane would likely have experienced a 72% decrease in the normal climb rate.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that after a local flight, during touchdown, the airplane veered to the left, and he applied full power to go around. He added that, the airplane became airborne, drifted to the left over brush, and then started to sink because the airplane "did not have enough airspeed to maintain flight." Subsequently, the airplane settled into the brush about 50 ft. left of the runway, where the left wing struck the ground and the airplane spun 180° to a stop. The left wing and aileron sustained substantial damage. The pilot did not report that there were any preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station, about the time of the accident, 23 nautical miles southwest of the accident site, reported wind from 320° at 12 knots, gusting 15 knots, temperature 100° F (38° C), dewpoint 41° F (5° C), and barometric setting of 30.15" Hg. The calculated density altitude was 8,352 ft. According to the Federal Aviation Administration density altitude Koch Chart, the airplane would had likely experienced a 72% decrease to the normal climb rate.

Aircraft

Registration
N682PS
Reported as
Jeff Jardine Kitfox S7 Supersport (NO SERIES)
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
KA12244242
Built
2013
Airframe hours
122
Engine
Rotax 912 ULS, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · March 1, 2017
Departed
KNB · Kanab, UT
Destination
KNB · Kanab, UT
Airport
KNB · Kanab Muni, runway 01, 6,200 × 75 ft, asphalt
Equipment
Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display

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
56
Injuries
None
Certificate
Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
Medical
Class 2, With waivers/limitations
Last flight review
August 27, 2016
Seat
Left
Restraint
4-point
Flight hours
658 total · 128 in this make and model · 565 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 8 in the last 30 days · 2 in the last 24 hours

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
300° at 12 knots, gusting 15
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
100 °F, dew point 41 °F
Altimeter
30.14 inHg
Observed at
KAZC, 23 nm away

Docket · 3

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 30, 2017, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 3.8 MB 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.