# NTSB GAA19CA133: Denney Kitfox IV Speedster, N995BW, Page, AZ, February 8, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 8, 2019, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Page, AZ - Coordinates: 36.735832, -111.395553 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7358&lon=-111.3956&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98966 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA133 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98966/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98966 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA133 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain lateral control during the landing flare, which resulted in the left wing striking a tree. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Kirk Brian KITFOX IV SPEEDSTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=05615CQ), [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: [Kirk Brian KITFOX IV SPEEDSTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05615CQ), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: tree(s)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Kirk Brian KITFOX IV SPEEDSTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/cases.md?model=05615CQ), [All aircraft, 933 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022020/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: [Kirk Brian KITFOX IV SPEEDSTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05615CQ), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Kirk Brian KITFOX IV SPEEDSTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=05615CQ), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Kirk Brian KITFOX IV SPEEDSTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05615CQ), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Landing: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Kirk Brian KITFOX IV SPEEDSTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05615CQ), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, while en route, he observed that his passenger was becoming ill, and he reached for the "sick bags," but he was unable to reach them due to his seat belt. He decided to make a precautionary landing on a dirt road. The pilot added that, during the landing flare, a wind gust "pushed the right wing up," the airplane drifted left, and the left wing struck a tree. The airplane rotated counterclockwise and impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind was from an unknown direction at 8 to 14 knots, gusting to 14 to 16 knots. An automated weather observation station located about 12 miles from the accident site reported that, about 7 minutes before the accident, the wind was variable at 3 knots. The pilot was landing the airplane to the south. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that, while en route, he observed that his passenger was becoming ill and he reached for the "sick bags", but he was unable to reach them due to his seat belt. He decided to make a precautionary landing on a dirt road. During the landing flare, a wind gust "pushed the right wing up", the airplane drifted left, and the left wing struck a tree. The airplane rotated counterclockwise and impacted the ground. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind was from an unknown direction at 8 to 14 knots, gusting to 14 to 16 knots. The automated weather observation station located about 12 miles from the accident site reported that, about 7 minutes before the accident, the wind was variable at 3 knots. The pilot was landing to the south. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N995BW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N995BW-2020-01-06), registration cancelled 2020-01-06, S/N JBS-070, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Denney KITFOX IV SPEEDSTER - Registry model: [Kirk Brian KITFOX IV SPEEDSTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/kirk-brian-kitfox-iv-speedster) (registry code 05615CQ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: JBS-070 - Year built: 2003 - Airframe hours: 475.8 - Engines: ROTAX 912UL 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 16, 2018 - Departed: U96, Halls Crossing, UT - Destination: BXK, Buckeye, AZ - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Electronic multifunction display, Onboard weather ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review July 4, 2018; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 506.2 total, 286.1 in this make and model, 506.2 as pilot in command, 46.4 in the last 90 days, 16.6 in the last 30 days, 2.5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 32 °F, dew point 16 °F - Altimeter: 30.21 inHg - Observed at: KPGA, 12 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 20190208023669A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190208023669A), Feb 8, 2019: Kirk Brian KITFOX IV SPEEDSTER, Page, AZ, Substantial damage. On February 8, 2019, at approximately 11:15 mountain standard time (MST), a kifox iv, N995BW, impacted a small tree and terrain during an attempted visual… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 20, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98966. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471251&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 2 photos, 530 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471252&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-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.