# NTSB GAA18CA515: Dell Lawrence Kitfox, N26LD, Hunter, NY, August 9, 2018

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: August 9, 2018, 19:10 local (23:10 UTC)
- Place: Hunter, NY
- Coordinates: 42.316665, -74.26667 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.3167&lon=-74.2667&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 20, 2020
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 98180
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA515
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98180/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98180
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA515

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate in-flight fuel management, which necessitated an off-airport precautionary landing, and his failure to maintain airplane control during the landing roll on rough 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: [Deal Lawrence KITFOX-SUPER SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05629IG), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Deal Lawrence KITFOX-SUPER SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md?model=05629IG), [All aircraft, 1,269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062000/cases.md)
- [Terrain: rough terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Deal Lawrence KITFOX-SUPER SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md?model=05629IG), [All aircraft, 442 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021015/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Deal Lawrence KITFOX-SUPER SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=05629IG), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)
- [Fluids: fuel](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010): Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware · Fluid management (probable cause); cases with it: [Deal Lawrence KITFOX-SUPER SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md?model=05629IG), [All aircraft, 1,695 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01071010/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Deal Lawrence KITFOX-SUPER SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05629IG), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Deal Lawrence KITFOX-SUPER SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05629IG), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Deal Lawrence KITFOX-SUPER SPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05629IG), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

A Federal Aviation Administration inspector reported that the pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane made a precautionary landing on a field because of low fuel. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder and vertical stabilizer.

## Factual narrative

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector reported that the pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane made a precautionary landing on an open field because of low fuel. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder. After multiple attempts, the pilot did not submit the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident/Incident Report Form 6120.1.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N26LD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N26LD), registered now, S/N KA08184136, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DELL LAWRENCE Kitfox (Super Spor)
- Registry model: [Deal Lawrence KITFOX-SUPER SPORT](https://openairdocs.org/model/deal-lawrence-kitfox-super-sport) (registry code 05629IG) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental 0-200 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-0-200-series) (registry code 17020, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: KA08184136
- Year built: 2010
- Engines: Continental O-200 Series reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Other; Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: JHW, Jamestown, NY
- Destination: 1B1, Hudson, NY
- Equipment: Unknown

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 64; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 290° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 59 °F
- Altimeter: 29.80 inHg
- Observed at: KALB, 33 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 20180809010729A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180809010729A), Aug 9, 2018: Deal Lawrence KITFOX-SUPER SPORT, Freehold, NY, Minor damage. During level flight, the pilot noticed that the engine was using more fuel than planned and attemped a precautionary landing for fuel on a wet field, the main…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 5, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98180. 312 KB in all.

- Record of Conversation - FAA (item 1, .PDF, 105 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478642&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20FAA-Master.PDF
- Accident Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 206 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40478643&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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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