# NTSB NYC96LA190: Bins Kitfox IV, N211KF, Pittsfield, MA, September 28, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 28, 1996, 09:05 local (13:05 UTC) - Place: Pittsfield, MA - Location: 42.4276° N, 73.2908° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs at PITTSFIELD MUNI (PSF), within about a mile (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.4276&lon=-73.2908&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 23, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39247 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC96LA190 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39247/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC96LA190 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, which resulted in a loss of directional control, the airplane veering off the runway, and a subsequent nose over. The adverse wind condition and uneven terrain were related factors. ## 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 - variable wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - Nose over, landing - roll ## Analysis The pilot/co-owner of the homebuilt amphibian airplane was flying a VFR flight from New Jersey to New Hampshire. While en route, the weather began to deteriorate, and the pilot elected to land at an uncontrolled airport in Massachusetts. After a radio call on the airport frequency, the pilot elected to land on runway 26. He estimated the winds were from 180 to 220 degrees at 10 gusting 12 knots. During the landing roll, the airplane veered off the right side of the runway and nosed over in a 'ravine.' The surface winds at the airport were reported to be from 140 to 360 degrees at 7 to 10 knots with gusts to 20 knots. The pilot received his en route and forecasted weather from a television station. ## Factual narrative On September 28, 1996, at 0905 eastern daylight time, a TOM BINS, Kitfox IV, a homebuilt amphibian, N211KF, was substantially damaged when it veered off the runway during the landing roll at the Pittsfield Municipal Airport (PSF), Pittsfield, Massachusetts. The private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that originated at Sussex, New Jersey, about 0830. No flight plan had been filed for the flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. In the NTSB Form 6120.1/2, the pilot/co-owner stated that he departed Sussex for Laconia, New Hampshire. While en route to Laconia the weather began to deteriorate, and he elected to land at PSF. He further stated: "...Check with UNICOM revealed runway 26 in use, wind 180 to 220 [degrees], 10 gusting 12 [knots]...After landing on 26, during rollout (approx. 30 MPH) wind gust from left forced the aircraft off the right side of runway into grass...nose gear eased into a 'ravine,' causing the aircraft to roll forward coming to rest inverted." The airport manager reported the weather as: "...better than 1,000 to 1,200 msl overcast and 8 to 10 miles visibility, with an approaching cold front. The surface winds at the time of the incident were varying from 140 to 360 degrees at 7 to 10 knots with gusts to 20 plus knots. There were low level windshear advisories for the area and winds aloft at 3,000 feet at 45 [knots] from the northwest." According to a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector, examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact failure of the airplane's directional controls. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N211KF](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N211KF-2018-01-02), registration cancelled 2018-01-02, S/N 1496, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BINS KITFOX IV - Registry model: [Bins Tom KITFOX IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/bins-tom-kitfox-iv) (registry code 05618VC) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1496 - Airframe hours: 243 - Engines: Rotax 912 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Willard J. Delcambre - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 12, 1996, 19 hours before - Departed: N63, SUSSEX, NJ - Destination: LCI, LACONIA, NH - Airport: PSF, Pittsfield Municipal, runway 26, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 627 total, 129 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 10 knots, gusting 12 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 2,500 ft broken - Temperature: 61 °F ## 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 19960928032969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960928032969A), Sep 28, 1996: Amtrdf KITFOX, Pittsfield, MA, Substantial damage. No narrative available ## Other investigations on N211KF (1) 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. - [NTSB CEN11LA415](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN11LA415), Sep 24, 2011: Bins Tom Kitfox IV (N211KF), Lafayette, LA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of control during a forced landing after a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons during takeoff. 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.