# NTSB SEA02LA021: King Kitfox IV, N38DK, Ashland, OR, December 29, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 29, 2001, 14:50 local (22:50 UTC) - Place: Ashland, OR - Coordinates: 42.150665, -122.530715 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.1507&lon=-122.5307&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 30, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 53969 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA02LA021 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/53969/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA021 ## Probable cause The pilot's excessive use of brakes. A factor was the pilot's lack of recent experience in type of aircraft. ## Analysis The pilot reported in a written statement that during the landing roll and as the aircraft was slowing, he applied the brakes to make a turn onto the taxiway. The pilot stated that when he applied the brakes, they "grabbed" and the aircraft nosed over. After the accident, the pilot reported to a state trooper that he applied the brakes a little hard to make a turn off and flipped over. The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft at the time. The pilot also reported that this was the first flight in a tail wheel equipped aircraft in the previous five months. ## Factual narrative On December 29, 2001, at 1450 Pacific standard time, an experimental Kitfox IV, N38DK, registered to and operated by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, nosed over during the landing roll at Ashland Municipal airport, Ashland, Oregon. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated from a private airstrip in Ruch, Oregon, about 50 minutes prior to the accident. In a written statement, the pilot reported that this was the first tail wheel equipped aircraft he had landed on an asphalt surface in the previous five months. The pilot reported that the landing and roll out were normal until the aircraft had slowed to about 15 mph and approaching the turnoff taxiway. The pilot stated that when he applied the brakes to accomplish the turn, the brakes grabbed and the aircraft nosed over. A witness to the accident, an Oregon State Police trooper returning from a game flight and was in the pattern at the time, reported that "The aircraft looked to be (hot) fast as he landed approximately 200 to 300 feet down the runway." The trooper further stated that approximately half way down the runway, the aircraft nosed over coming to rest on its back. After the accident, the pilot stated to the trooper that he "applied the brakes a little hard to make a turn off and flipped over." The pilot reported no mechanical failures or malfunctions with the aircraft at the time of the accident. The pilot also reported on the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report Form 6120.1/2 under Recommendation (How Could This Accident Have Been Prevented), "more recent and thorough review of tail wheel ops and limitations." The Ashland runway is 3,603 feet long and 75 feet wide. The surface is asphalt and was dry at the time. The pilot reported that the weather at the time was clear with a variable wind at three knots. The temperature was approximately 50 degrees F. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - roll - brakes(normal) - excessive, pilot in command (cause) - lack of recent experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor) ## Aircraft - Registration: [N38DK](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N38DK-2014-10-29), registration cancelled 2014-10-29, S/N 1537, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: King Kitfox IV - Registry model: [King David F KITFOX IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/king-david-f-kitfox-iv) (registry code 056228G) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1537 - Airframe hours: 202 - Engines: Rotax 582 66 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: David M. Palmer - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 1, 2001, 10 hours before - Departed: Ruch, OR - Destination: S03, ashland, OR - Airport: S03, Ashland Muni, runway 30, 3,603 × 75 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial, flight engineer; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review December 8, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 6,000 total, 10 in this make and model, 2,000 as pilot in command, 45 in the last 90 days, 19 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 6,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 29.93 inHg - Observed at: MFR, 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). - [Accident 20011229037689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20011229037689A), Dec 29, 2001: Amtr KITFOXIV, Ashland, OR, No damage. (-23) Pilot applied too much braking during landing. Aircraft nosed over. From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date; 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.