# NTSB LAX95LA279: Mcnulty Kitfox IV 1200, N38HM, Weed, CA, August 6, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 6, 1995, 11:30 local (18:30 UTC) - Place: Weed, CA - Coordinates: 41.510055, -122.359901 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.5101&lon=-122.3599&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 27, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29173 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA279 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29173/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA279 ## Probable cause the pilot's delayed application of sufficient power to arrest a high sink rate, which resulted in a hard landing. Factors in the accident were the pilot's lack of recent flight experience and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - descent - not corrected, dual student (cause) - remedial action - delayed, dual student (cause) - lack of recent experience, dual student (contributing factor) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - Main gear collapsed, landing - flare/touchdown - landing gear,main gear - overload - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command ## Analysis THE AIRCRAFT OWNER/BUILDER HAD NOT FLOWN SINCE 1988, PENDING RESOLUTION OF A MEDICAL CERTIFICATION PROBLEM. THE PILOT'S MEDICAL WAS RECENTLY REINSTATED AND HE WAS OBTAINING DUAL INSTRUCTION TO COMPLETE A BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT OF THE MORNING WITH HIS FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, AND HAD COMPLETED SIX FULL STOP LANDINGS. DURING THE LAST APPROACH, THE AIRCRAFT DEVELOPED A HIGH SINK RATE ON SHORT FINAL AND THE PILOT SAID HE ADDED A LITTLE POWER, WHICH DID NOT ARREST THE SINK. THE PILOT THEN ADDED FULL POWER. THE HIGH SINK RATE WAS NOT CORRECTED AND THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD ON THE RUNWAY, COLLAPSING THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR. THE AIRCRAFT THEN GROUND LOOPED OFF THE RUNWAY. ## Factual narrative On August 6, 1995, at 1130 Pacific daylight time, a homebuilt experimental Kitfox IV 1200 airplane, N38HM, ground looped on landing and collapsed the landing gear at Weed, California. The aircraft was owned and operated by the builder/pilot and was on a dual instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and included calm wind conditions. The aircraft incurred substantial damage. Neither the private pilot owner nor the commercial pilot/flight instructor onboard was injured. The flight originated from the Weed airport on the day of the accident at 1045 as a local area dual instructional flight. The aircraft owner/builder had not flown since 1988, pending resolution of a medical certification problem. The pilot's medical was recently reinstated and he was obtaining dual instruction to complete a biennial flight review. The pilot reported that this was the second instructional flight of the morning with his flight instructor, and had completed six full stop landings. During the last approach, the aircraft developed a high sink rate on short final and the pilot said he added a little power, which did not arrest the sink. The pilot then added full power. The high sink rate was not corrected and the aircraft landed hard on the runway, collapsing the left main landing gear. The aircraft then ground looped off the runway. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N38HM](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N38HM), registered now, S/N 1882, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MCNULTY KITFOX IV 1200 (KITFOX IV) - Registry model: [Mcnulty Harry A KITFOX IV 1200](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcnulty-harry-a-kitfox-iv-1200) (registry code 05626K2) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912UL](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul) (registry code 55592, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1882 - Airframe hours: 5 - Engines: ROTAX 912UL 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Harry A. Mcnulty - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 6, 1994, 5 hours before - Departed: 1O6 - Airport: 046, Weed, runway 32, 5,000 × 60 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 2,000 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 25 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 86 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg ## 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 19950806021849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950806021849A), Aug 6, 1995: Amtrdf KITFOX, Weed, CA, Substantial damage. Uncorrected high sink rate on final. Landed hard and ground looped. CFI failed to correct situation. 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.