# NTSB MIA02LA172: Ronald Levee Kitfox IV, N1441Z, De Land, FL, September 29, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 29, 2002, 09:26 local (13:26 UTC) - Place: De Land, FL - Coordinates: 29.066944, -81.283889 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.0669&lon=-81.2839&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 16, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards District Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 55799 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA02LA172 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/55799/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA02LA172 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during the flare/touchdown resulting in substantial damage. A factor in the accident was the poor in-flight planning decision by the pilot for his continuing the approach in close proximity to a departing airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot stated that after returning to the departure airport, he entered the traffic pattern for runway 30 (announcing all positions), and noticed a Cessna 172 taxied onto the approach end of runway 30. He continued the downwind leg, turned base, and observed the Cessna 172 was still on the runway. He turned final approach and observed that the Cessna 172 was starting the takeoff roll. He slowed the airplane, and later reported there was a slight crosswind from the right. He touched down first on the right main landing gear, and reported experiencing a blast of air from the right. The airplane then bounced and weather vaned to the right. He then overcorrected with aileron input causing the left wingtip to contact the runway. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and came to rest heading 030 degrees; the right main landing gear was collapsed and the left main landing gear was separated. The pilot reported there was no mechanical failure or malfunction. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that the right wingtip contacted the runway. Additionally, the pilot reported to the FAA inspector that he should have performed a go-around rather than be in close proximity to the departing Cessna 172 airplane at the point of touchdown. ## Factual narrative On September 29, 2002, about 0926 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Kitfox IV, N1441Z, registered to a private individual, experienced a loss of directional control during landing at De Land Municipal-Sidney H. Taylor Field Airport, De Land, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated about 41 minutes earlier from the De Land Municipal-Sidney H. Taylor Field Airport. The pilot stated that after returning to the departure airport, he entered the traffic pattern for runway 30 (announcing all positions), and noticed a Cessna 172 taxied onto the approach end of runway 30. He continued the downwind leg, turned base, and observed the Cessna 172 was still on the runway. He turned final approach and observed that the Cessna 172 was starting the takeoff roll. He slowed the airplane, and later reported there was a slight crosswind from the right. He touched down first on the right main landing gear, and reported experiencing a blast of air from the right. The airplane then bounced and weather vaned to the right. He then overcorrected with aileron input causing the left wingtip to contact the runway. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and came to rest heading 030 degrees; the right main landing gear was collapsed and the left main landing gear was separated. The pilot reported there was no mechanical failure or malfunction. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that the right wingtip contacted the runway. Additionally, the pilot reported to the FAA inspector that he should have performed a go-around rather than be in close proximity to the departing Cessna 172 airplane at the point of touchdown. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1441Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1441Z-2005-05-25), registration cancelled 2005-05-25, S/N 1441, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ronald Levee Kitfox IV - Registry model: [Levee Ronald KITFOX 4](https://openairdocs.org/model/levee-ronald-kitfox-4) (registry code 05620FG) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1441 - Airframe hours: 160 - Engines: Rotax 912 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Ronald F. Levee - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2002, 30 hours before - Departed: KDED, De Land, FL - Destination: KDED - Airport: KDED, De Land Municipal, runway 30, 6,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review August 10, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 446 total, 161 in this make and model, 352 as pilot in command, 23 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 20° at 7 knots - Visibility: 7 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: KDAB, 14 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). - [Incident 20020929028419I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020929028419I), Sep 29, 2002: Amtr KITFOXIV, Deland, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) Ronald frank levee, the pilot in command and sole occupant of kit fox, N1441Z, states that he departed Deland municipal airport, Deland, Florida at… 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.