# NTSB SEA02LA052: Skystar Kitfox Lite Squared, N211TE, Caldwell, ID, March 9, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: March 9, 2002, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Caldwell, ID - Coordinates: 43.659942, -116.630393 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6599&lon=-116.6304&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 24, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54330 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA02LA052 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54330/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54330 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA02LA052 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to adequately compensate for the wind conditions. High and gusting winds were a factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, taxi - from landing - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) ## Analysis After landing and taxiing off the runway in high gusting wind conditions, a gust of wind hit the aircraft. The aircraft was pushed sidewise and the pilot attempted to position the nose of the airplane into the wind. The left wing lifted and the airplane nosed over. While in the pattern, the pilot tuned to the Automated Weather Observing System which reported a variable wind at 23 knots, gusting to 28. ## Factual narrative On March 9, 2002, about 1400 mountain standard time, an experimental Kitfox Lite Squared, N211TE, registered to Skystar Aircraft Corp. and operated by the owner as a 14 CFR Part 91 business flight, nosed over after landing at Caldwell Industrial Airport, Caldwell, Idaho. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the commercial pilot was not injured. The flight originated from Emmett, Idaho, about 30 minutes prior to the accident. The pilot reported that after takeoff from Emmett, he tuned in the Automated Weather Observing System ( AWOS) for Caldwell. The winds were reported up to 25 knots and favoring runway 12. The pilot stated that when entering the pattern at Caldwell, the winds were reported from 110 degrees, variable to 210 degrees at 23 knots, gusting to 28 knots. The base to final legs were flown normally, with the windsock indicating a 10 to 20 degree crosswind from the right. After landing on runway 12, and taxiing to the hangar, a quartering tailwind gust hit the aircraft and pushed it sidewise. The pilot tried to correct by positioning the nose of the airplane into the wind, however the left wheel had lifted off the ground and the airplane was pushed to the right. The left wing lifted and the aircraft nosed over and came to rest inverted. A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector from the Boise, Idaho, Flight Standards District Office reported that both wing struts and four longerons were damaged. At 1355, the weather reported at Caldwell was wind from 140 degrees at 26 knots, gusting to 34 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N211TE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N211TE-2013-05-08), registration cancelled 2013-05-08, S/N 2L050-1010, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Skystar Aircraft Corp Kitfox Lite Squared - Registry model: [Skystar KITFOX LITE SQUARED](https://openairdocs.org/model/skystar-kitfox-lite-squared) (registry code 05611W4) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2L050-1010 - Airframe hours: 165.2 - Engines: Rotax 912 ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Business, Part 91 - Registered owner: Skystar Aircraft Corp. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, January 29, 2001, 10 hours before - Departed: S78, Emmett, ID - Destination: EUL, Caldwell, ID - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: EUL, Caldwell Industrial, runway 12, 5,500 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; flight instructor, flight engineer, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 5, 2000; seat: right; flight hours: 12,000 total, 1,000 in this make and model, 11,900 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 26 knots, gusting 34 - Visibility: 8 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 18 °F - Observed at: EUL ## 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 20020309003839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020309003839A), Mar 9, 2002: Amtr LITESQUARED, Caldwell, ID, No damage. (-23) The pilot had just landed at Caldwell airport (eul) and was taxiing between parallel runways when a gust of wind caught the aircraft and flipped it over… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 15, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54330. 786 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 786 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40392678&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.