NYC00LA034

NTSB accident investigation · Bates Kitfox · Westminster, MD · November 21, 1999

Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal report
Date
November 21, 1999, 16:03 local (21:03 UTC)
Place
Westminster, MD
Injuries
2 serious
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Maneuvering
Aircraft
N993DBBates Kitfox
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report November 30, 2000
Report
Approved by Office Director
FAA report
19991121041719A
Case key
47861

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

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Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control while maneuvering.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

Loss of control - in flightManeuvering
Aircraft control - not maintainedPilot in commandCause
QualificationPilot in command
In flight collision with terrain/waterDescent - uncontrolled
Object - tree(s)
Terrain condition - ground

Analysis

The pilot departed, and climbed to a cruise altitude of 1,000 feet msl. After flying for approximately 30 minutes the pilot maneuvered the airplane onto a 45 degree downwind entry at 200 feet agl. He then saw an ultra light on a converging heading. He banked the airplane to the right, advanced the throttle, and initiated a climb. Once clear, the pilot began a turn to the left to follow the ultra light onto the downwind, but while turning, the airplane entered an 'accelerated stall.' The pilot estimates that at the time of the stall the airplane was nose up approximately 10 degrees, and banking to the left approximately 15 degrees.

Factual narrative

On November 21, 1999, at 1603 eastern standard time, a homebuilt Kitfox, N993DB, was substantially damaged when it impacted terrain near Westminster, Maryland. The certificated student pilot and passenger sustained serious injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated from a grass strip near Liberty Town, Maryland. A flight plan was not filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

According to the pilot, he arrived at the private airstrip with his wife, about 1200. He made some repairs to the airplane's intercom system, then conducted a preflight. During the preflight he checked that the fuel quantity was full, and he noticed no anomalies with the airplane. Both he and his wife boarded the airplane, and the engine started on the first attempt. He completed the run-up check in front of the hangar, then taxied to the south runway. Once on the grass strip, the pilot advanced the throttle and departed. He flew approximately 15 minutes to visit a friend, landed, and shut down the airplane's engine.

After approximately 45 minutes, the pilot and his wife re-boarded the airplane, and departed via the northeast runway for a second destination. The pilot climbed to a cruise altitude of 1,000 feet msl, and flew approximately 30 minutes. Then, while maneuvering the airplane onto a 45 degree downwind entry at 200 feet agl, the pilot saw an ultra light on a converging heading. He banked the airplane to the right, advanced the throttle, and initiated a climb. Once clear, the pilot began a turn to the left to follow the ultra light onto the downwind, but while turning, the airplane entered an "accelerated stall." The pilot estimates that at the time of the stall the airplane was nose up approximately 10 degrees, and banking to the left approximately 15 degrees.

Aircraft

Registration
N993DB
Reported as
Bates Kitfox
Category
Airplane, amateur-built
Serial number
JBS075
Airframe hours
140
Engine
Rotax 912, 80 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal · Part 91
Registered owner
Kenton Frederic
Airworthiness certificate
Special, Experimental (Special)
Last inspection
Annual · July 1, 1999 · 42 hours before
Departed
NONE · Liberty Town, MD
Destination
NONE · Liberty Town, MD
Airport
NONE · Baugher'S Orchard

Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Pilot
Age
42
Certificate
Student
Medical
Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
Seat
Left
Flight hours
54 total · 40 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
80° at 5 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Lowest ceiling
None
Temperature
64 °F, dew point 54 °F
Altimeter
30.00 inHg
Observed at
BWI, 33 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.