# NTSB GAA18CA423: Daniels Alan L Kitfox Series 7, N555HT, Lowville, NY, July 15, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 15, 2018, 10:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Lowville, NY - Coordinates: 43.766944, -75.60028 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.7669&lon=-75.6003&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 18, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97785 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA423 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97785/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97785 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA423 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain a proper airspeed during the approach to land, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Daniels Alan L KITFOX SERIES 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=056152Z), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Daniels Alan L KITFOX SERIES 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=056152Z), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Daniels Alan L KITFOX SERIES 7, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056152Z), [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. - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Daniels Alan L KITFOX SERIES 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=056152Z), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Daniels Alan L KITFOX SERIES 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=056152Z), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Daniels Alan L KITFOX SERIES 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056152Z), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Roll over](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097); cases with it: [Daniels Alan L KITFOX SERIES 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md?model=056152Z), [All aircraft, 261 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/097/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during landing, about 5 ft off the ground, the left wing raised, and the right wing impacted the ground. Subsequently, the airplane twisted right and landed sideways on the left main landing gear. The pilot further reported in a telephone conversation that, during the landing, the airplane got slow, there was a breeze from the left, and the airplane did not respond after he applied correction for lateral control. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage, and the elevator. The pilot recommended that he should have had more speed or performed a go-around. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, during landing, about 5 ft off of the ground, the left wing raised and the right wing impacted the ground. Subsequently, the airplane twisted to the right and landed sideways on the left main landing gear. The pilot further reported in a telephone conversation that, during the landing, the airplane got slow, there was a breeze from the left, and the airplane did not respond after he applied correction for the lateral control. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings, the fuselage and the elevator. The pilot recommended that he should have had more speed or performed a go around. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N555HT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N555HT-2019-09-06), registration cancelled 2019-09-06, S/N S60111-076 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DANIELS ALAN L KITFOX SERIES 7 (No Series) - Registry model: [Daniels Alan L KITFOX SERIES 7](https://openairdocs.org/model/daniels-alan-l-kitfox-series-7) (registry code 056152Z) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: S60111-076 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 898 - Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 8, 2018 - Departed: 6B4, Utica/Frankfort, NY - Destination: Lowville, NY - Flight plan: VFR - Equipment: Angle of attack indicator, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 20, 2018; seat: left; flight hours: 189 total, 186 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: KGTB, 18 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 20180715011259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180715011259A), Jul 15, 2018: Daniels Alan L KITFOX SERIES 7, Harrisburg, NY, Destroyed. 07/15/2018 Approximately 0900 am an experimental Kitfox aircraft N555HT while attempting to land at a field in Harrisburg, NY crash landed causing the aircraft… ## Other investigations on N555HT (1) 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. - [NTSB ERA13CA047](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA047), Oct 18, 2012: Daniels Alan L Kitfox Series 7 (N555HT), Plymouth, MA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper landing flare and subsequent inadequate recovery from a bounced landing. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 29, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97785. 1.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 845 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467804&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot ROC (item 2, .PDF, 88 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467805&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%20ROC-Master.PDF - Accident Picture (item 3, .PDF, 379 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40467806&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Picture-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. --- 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.