- Date
- May 27, 2018, 09:30 local (17:30 UTC)
- Place
- Weippe, ID
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N103GEEldridge George Skystar Kitfox SER 7
- Defining event
- Landing: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 5, 2018
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- General Aviation Accidents
- Parties
- FAA
- FAA report
- 20180527006019A
- Case key
- 97337
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 a proper approach altitude, which resulted in a collision with a fence.
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, during the approach, the airplane "caught a sudden down draft," and the tailwheel struck the top of a 5-ft-tall fence. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system located about 20 nautical miles from the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 190° at 3 knots. The pilot reported that the sky condition was clear, visibility unlimited, temperature 45°F, and wind was from 270° between 8 and 10 knots. The pilot landed to the west.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that, during approach, the airplane "caught a sudden down draft", and the tailwheel struck the top of a 5 ft. fence. Subsequently, the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation system located about 20 nautical miles from the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 190° at 3 knots. The pilot reported that the sky condition was clear, visibility unlimited, temperature 45°F, wind was from 270° at 8 to 10 knots. The pilot landed to the west.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N103GE
- Reported as
- Eldridge George Skystar Kitfox SER 7 (NO SERIES)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- S60111-066
- Built
- 2003
- Airframe hours
- 580
- Engine
- Rotax 912ULS, 100 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · June 24, 2017
- Departed
- Weippe, ID
- Destination
- Weippe, ID
- Flight plan
- VFR
- Airport
- runway West, 1,300 × 200 ft, grass/turf
- Equipment
- Onboard weather, Heads up display, Handheld GPS, Satellite tracking device
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
- 67
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 22, 2017
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 1,920 total · 206 in this make and model · 1,920 as pilot in command · 19 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 190° at 3 knots
- Temperature
- 55 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.13 inHg
- Observed at
- KP69, 20 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 6, 2018, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 4.0 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.