# NTSB LAX98LA215: Zimmerman Kitfox 4-1200, N75MZ, Fountain Hills, AZ, June 27, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 27, 1998, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Fountain Hills, AZ - Coordinates: 33.600837, -111.740509 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6008&lon=-111.7405&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 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 30133 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX98LA215 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/30133/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA215 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during the landing roll in a crosswind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - berm - terrain condition - ravine - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot reported that the windsock on the south end of the airport showed that the wind was coming from a direction of 200 degrees at a velocity of 8-10 mph. After touchdown, a right crosswind caused the aircraft to veer to the right. The pilot reported that he applied full left rudder, right aileron and up elevator, and added power. The aircraft continued to swerve to the right and was weather vaning. The right main tire left the ground and the tail wheel was skipping. As the aircraft departed the right side of the landing area, the right wing contacted a tree and the landing gear and left wing tip impacted a berm along the edge of the landing area. The aircraft flipped over inverted and continued to slide about 20 feet down to the bottom of the ravine on the edge of the runway. The pilot further reported that he had not experienced any mechanical malfunction with the aircraft prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On June 27, 1998, at 1500 hours mountain standard time, a Zimmerman Kitfox 4-1200, N75MZ, ground looped on landing at the private Goldfield Ranch Airport, Fountain Hills, Arizona. The aircraft sustained substantial damage, and the private pilot and passenger, the sole occupants, were not injured. The personal flight originated at the Mesa, Arizona, airport about 1400. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The pilot reported that the windsock on the south end of the airport showed the wind was coming from a direction of 200 degrees at a velocity of 8-10 mph. After touchdown on runway 18, a right crosswind gust caused the aircraft to veer to the right. The pilot reported that he applied full left rudder, right aileron and up elevator, and added power. He reported that the aircraft continued to swerve to the right and was weather vaning. The right main tire left the ground and the tail wheel was skipping. As the aircraft departed the right side of the landing area, the right wing contacted a tree and the landing gear and left wing tip impacted a berm along the edge of the landing area. The aircraft flipped over inverted and continued to slide about 20 feet down to the bottom of the ravine on the edge of the runway. The pilot reported that he had not experienced any mechanical malfunction with the aircraft prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N75MZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N75MZ-2008-06-09), registration cancelled 2008-06-09, S/N 1913, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Zimmerman KITFOX 4-1200 (KITFOX 4-1) - Registry model: [Zimmerman Michael H KITFOX 4-1200](https://openairdocs.org/model/zimmerman-michael-h-kitfox-4-1200) (registry code 05623PG) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1913 - Airframe hours: 80 - Engines: Rotax 582-DCD1 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Todd Clodfelter - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 1998, 10 hours before - Departed: FFZ, MESA, AZ - Destination: GFR - Airport: GFR, Goldfield Ranch, runway 18, 2,700 × 75 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 680 total, 70 in this make and model, 637 as pilot in command ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 7 knots - Visibility: 40 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 100 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: KSD ## 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 19980627023829A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980627023829A), Jun 27, 1998: Amtrdf KITFOX, Fountain Hills, AZ, Substantial damage. The pilot reported that the windsock on the south end of the airport showed that the wind was coming from a direction of 200 degrees at a velocity of 8-10 mph.… 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.