# NTSB SEA04CA160: Beyers Kitfox IV, N90TY, Sandpoint, ID, August 16, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 15, 2004, 19:00 local (Aug 16, 2004, 02:00 UTC) - Place: Sandpoint, ID - Coordinates: 48.348056, -116.553611 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.3481&lon=-116.5536&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 59911 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA04CA160 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/59911/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA04CA160 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing roll. Contributing factors were the rough grass runway, and the trees on the left side of the runway. ## 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 - directional control - not obtained/maintained, pilot in command (cause) - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - rough/uneven (contributing factor) - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot said that he was landing the airplane on a grass airstrip when his left wheel impacted a hole, and the airplane deviated to the left. He applied full right rudder, but did not regain control of the airplane before it impacted trees. The right wing's leading edge spar was bent, the left main landing gear was folded back, the horizontal stabilizer was bent, and the empennage was wrinkled. The Sheriff reported that the pilot told him that he landed the airplane "too hard," and he lost control as it landed on the grassy runway. The Sheriff said that "the runway was safe from any hazards, and cleared of any debris." The owner of the runway did put some dirt in a hole the day after the accident. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector that examined the runway said that it appeared to be a "good grass airstrip." ## Factual narrative On August 15, 2004, at approximately 1900 Pacific daylight time, a Beyers Kitfox IV, N90TY, was substantially damaged when it departed the runway and impacted trees during landing rollout at Olmstead Sky Ranch Airport (ID25) near Sandpoint, Idaho. The private pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight, which originated approximately 15 minutes before the accident. The pilot had not filed a flight plan. The pilot said that he was landing the airplane on a grass airstrip (runway 16) when his left wheel impacted a hole, and the airplane deviated to the left. The pilot said that he applied full right rudder, but did not regain control of the airplane before it impacted trees. The right wing's leading edge spar was bent, the left main landing gear was folded back, the horizontal stabilizer was bent, and the empennage was wrinkled. The Bonner County Sheriff reported that the pilot told him that he landed the airplane "too hard," and he lost control as it landed on the grassy runway. The Sheriff said that "the runway was safe from any hazards, and cleared of any debris." The owner of the runway did put some dirt in a hole the day after the accident. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector that examined the runway said that it appeared to be a "good grass airstrip." The pilot said that he passed his private pilot check ride in June 2004; his private pilot license with assigned number was pending. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N90TY](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N90TY), registered now, S/N 1800, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Beyers Kitfox IV - Registry model: [Rhoades Larry W KITFOX IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/rhoades-larry-w-kitfox-iv) (registry code 05604Z0) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1822 - Airframe hours: 550 - Engines: Rotax 912ULS 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Stephen M. Allbee Sr. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, October 15, 2003, 152 hours before - Departed: ID25, Sandpoint, ID - Destination: ID25, Sandpoint, ID - Airport: ID25, Olmstead Sky Ranch Airport, runway 16, 3,000 × 50 ft, grass/turf ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 46; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 15, 2004; seat: front; flight hours: 200 total, 130 in this make and model, 130 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 0° at 0 knots - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 97 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: SZT, 4 nm away ## Other investigations on N90TY (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 WPR11CA088](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11CA088), Jan 4, 2011: Ferkin Kitfox IV (N90TY), Homedale, ID, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for the snow-covered terrain during the takeoff ground roll, which resulted in a nose-over. 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.