# NTSB GAA19CA154: Denney Kitfox MDL Classiciv, N111YT, Floodwood, MN, February 28, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: February 28, 2019, 13:35 local (19:35 UTC) - Place: Floodwood, MN - Coordinates: 46.976943, -92.830001 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.9769&lon=-92.8300&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 99033 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA154 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99033/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99033 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA154 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of lateral control while landing in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a nose-over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: crosswind correction](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Jerry R KITFOX MDL CLASSICIV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md?model=05621G2), [All aircraft, 184 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062030/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bell Jerry R KITFOX MDL CLASSICIV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05621G2), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Bell Jerry R KITFOX MDL CLASSICIV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=05621G2), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Bell Jerry R KITFOX MDL CLASSICIV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05621G2), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) - [Terrain: snowy/icy terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Bell Jerry R KITFOX MDL CLASSICIV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/cases.md?model=05621G2), [All aircraft, 77 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Bell Jerry R KITFOX MDL CLASSICIV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=05621G2), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Bell Jerry R KITFOX MDL CLASSICIV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05621G2), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing in a crosswind, he planned to touch down 2 ft past the beginning of the compacted, snow-covered, private airstrip. He added that, "in order to perform [the short field landing, he] chose to ride the tires just over the terrain until touchdown." He reported further that, after the front main landing gear touched down, a wind gust picked up the right wing, the left tire sank in the snow, and the airplane decelerated and then nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were not preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind at the accident location, about the time of the accident, was from 230° at 9 knots, gusting to 15 knots. The pilot was landing the airplane to the southwest on a 210° heading. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that, during landing in a crosswind, he planned to touch down 2 ft past the beginning of the compacted snow-covered, private airstrip. He added that, "in order to perform [the short field landing, he] chose to ride the tires just over the terrain until touchdown". After the front main landing gear touched down, a "gust of wind" picked up the right-side wing, the left tire sank in the snow, and the airplane decelerated and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were not preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported the wind at the accident location, about the time of the accident as wind 230° at 9 knots, gusting to 15 knots. The pilot was landing to the southwest, heading 210°. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N111YT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N111YT), registered now, S/N C97070196 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Denney KITFOX MDL CLASSICIV (IV1200) - Registry model: [Bell Jerry R KITFOX MDL CLASSICIV](https://openairdocs.org/model/bell-jerry-r-kitfox-mdl-classiciv) (registry code 05621G2) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912UL series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul-series) (registry code 55571, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: C97070196 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 528.9 - Engines: Rotax 912UL 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 22, 2018 - Departed: COQ, Cloquet, MN - Destination: PVT, Floodwood, MN - Airport: PVT, Pvt, runway 21, 1,300 × 60 ft, snow - Equipment: Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 28, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 233 total, 111 in this make and model, 233 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 220° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: -8 °F, dew point -11 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KCOQ, 21 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 20190228010599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190228010599A), Feb 28, 2019: Bell Jerry R KITFOX MDL CLASSICIV, Floodwood, MN, Substantial damage. Pilot was returning from his annual flight review that morning. His CFI stated that he did an excellent job with crosswind landings to the paved runway they… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 4, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99033. 903 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 488 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471660&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Pictures (item 2, .PDF, 415 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40471661&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Pictures-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.