# NTSB LAX99LA324: Kilpatrick IV-1200, N843K, Springerville, AZ, August 14, 1999

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: August 14, 1999, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place: Springerville, AZ
- Coordinates: 34.03944, -109.199722 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.0394&lon=-109.1997&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 23, 2002
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: FAA, FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE
- NTSB case key (mKey): 54157
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX99LA324
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54157/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX99LA324

## Probable cause

Failure of the pilot to maintain directional control resulting in an inadvertent groundloop.  A factor was muddy terrain by the runway.

## 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
  - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - terrain condition - muddy (contributing factor)
  - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll

## Analysis

During the transition to tail down during the landing rollout the airplane veered off the left side of the runway and ground looped.  The pilot completed nine touch-and-go landings, and planned to make this landing a full stop.  As the airplane left the paved surface, one wheel dug into the wet dirt by the runway and it ground looped, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing spar.

## Factual narrative

On August 14, 1999, about 1400 hours mountain standard time, an experimental Kilpatrick IV-1200, N843K, ground looped during landing at Springerville, Arizona.  The commercial pilot/owner was operating the airplane under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91.  The commercial pilot and one passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage.  The personal local flight departed about 1215.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed.  On November 20, 2001, the accident came to the attention of the Federal Aviation Administration, Scottsdale Flight Standards District Office, which then notified the Safety Board.

The pilot stated he completed nine touch-and-go landings, and planned to make this landing a full stop.  During the transition to tail down during the landing rollout the airplane veered off the left side of the runway.  One wheel dug into the wet dirt and the airplane ground looped, which resulted in substantial damage to the right wing spar.  The pilot observed clear skies, no precipitation, no obstructions to visibility, and light and variable winds.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N843K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N843K-2000-03-03), registration cancelled 2000-03-03, S/N LBS086 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: KILPATRICK IV-1200
- Registry model: [Kilpatrick Kenneth W IV 1200 SPEEDSTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/kilpatrick-kenneth-w-iv-1200-speedster) (registry code 05626FC) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: LBS086
- Engines: Rotax 912 80 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Kenneth W. Kilpatrick
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Departed: Q35, SPRINGERVILLE, AZ
- Airport: Q35, Springerville, runway 21, 8,420 × 75 ft, asphalt

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,664 total, 1,549 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none

## 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 19990814046879A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990814046879A), Aug 14, 1999: Amtr IV1200SPEEDS, Springerville, AZ, Substantial damage. (.19) On August 14, 1999, about 1400 hours mountain standard time, an experimental kilpatrick IV-1200, N843K, ground looped during landing at Springerville,…

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.