# NTSB NYC99LA030: King Kitfox IV, N9724F, Gasport, NY, November 28, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: November 28, 1998, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Gasport, NY - Coordinates: 43.190895, -78.570159 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.1909&lon=-78.5702&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 16, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45392 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC99LA030 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45392/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC99LA030 ## Probable cause A collision with a deer while landing. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown - object - animal(s) (cause) ## Analysis The pilot was landing into the sun and performing a wheel landing. Just as the wheels touched the ground, he struck a deer. The airplane came to rest on the runway, in a nose low attitude. The pilot reported that he had not seen the deer prior to the accident. Witnesses reported the deer came from left to right in front of the airplane. ## Factual narrative On November 28, 1998, about 1530 eastern standard time, a homebuilt Kitfox IV, N9724F, struck a deer while landing at Royalton Airport (9G5), Gasport, New York. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the certificated private pilot was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight that departed from Royalton Airport about 1445, and was conducted under 14 CFR 91. In the NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot stated: "...on final on runway 25, flying directly into the sun. Flared out for a wheel landing at an airspeed of 55-60 MPH. Just as the main wheels touched down on the runway it felt as if the front of the aircraft exploded, the plane nosed over and the nose skidded along the runway for some 75 feet and came to a stop on the right side of the runway...I got out the right side door, and saw a dead deer about 30 ft off the right side of the runway. Three witnesses told me the deer was running and jumping from my left to right and jumped into the front of the aircraft. The deer weighted about 150 pounds." An inspector from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), reported that the lower fuselage in the vicinity of the firewall was crushed in, and the propeller blades were broken off. In addition, the engine mounts were bent. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9724F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N9724F), registered now, S/N 1628 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: King KITFOX IV - Registry model: [King Floyd J KITFOX IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/king-floyd-j-kitfox-iv) (registry code 05623LF) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1628 - Airframe hours: 221 - Engines: Rotax 912 UL 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Floyd J. King - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 13, 1998, 18 hours before - Departed: 9G5 - Airport: 9G5, Royalton Airport, runway 25, 2,530 × 35 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,767 total, 221 in this make and model, 16 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 15 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 48 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BUF, 16 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). - [Accident 19981128047219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19981128047219A), Nov 28, 1998: Amtr KITFOX, Gasport, NY, No damage. (-23) On November 28, 1998 at approximately 1530 EDT a homebuilt kit fox, N9724F, s/n 1628, piloted by floyd king, hit a deer on landing on runway 28 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.