- Date
- July 9, 2004, 12:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Arlington, WA
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N1078PPetsche Kitfox Kitfox 7
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 24, 2005
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA-FSDO
- FAA report
- 20040709012449A
- Case key
- 59615
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind condition and failure to maintain directional control while landing. A factor contributing to the accident was a direct crosswind.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated the airplane began to porpoise shortly after landing (wheel landing) on runway 34. The pilot stated corrective actions were taken, however, the airplane veered to the left and exited the runway. During the runway excursion, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and rudder. The METAR weather observation for the airport during the timeframe of the accident reported in part: winds from 240 degrees true at 7 knots; visibility 10 statute mile; scattered clouds at 2,100 feet AGL, scattered clouds at 3,200 feet; temperature 18 degrees Celsius (C); dew point 12 degrees C.
Factual narrative
On July 9, 2004, about 1230 Pacific daylight time, a Petsche Kitfox 7, airplane, N1078P, sustained substantial damage subsequent to a runway excursion while landing at Arlington Municipal Airport (KAWO), Arlington, Washington. The airplane was being operated by the pilot/builder as a personal pleasure flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The certified private pilot and passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the cross-country flight that originated at Ellensburg, Washington.
During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board IIC, the pilot stated the airplane began to porpoise shortly after landing (wheel landing) on runway 34. The pilot stated corrective actions were taken, however, the airplane veered to the left and exited the runway.
During the runway excursion, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and rudder.
The METAR observation for KAWO at 1235 reported in part: winds from 240 degrees true at 7 knots; visibility 10 statute mile; scattered clouds at 2,100 feet AGL, scattered clouds at 3,200 feet; temperature 18 degrees Celsius (C); dew point 12 degrees C.
At the time of the accident, a temporary FAA control tower was in operation at Arlington to facilitate the Northwest EAA Fly-In.
Prior to landing, the pilot was issued a landing clearance and advised of the wind direction and speed.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1078P
- Reported as
- Petsche Kitfox Kitfox 7
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- Z60111-068
- Airframe hours
- 50
- Engine
- Rotax 914, 110 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Timothy E. Petsche
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 2004 · 50 hours before
- Departed
- ELN · Ellensburg, WA
- Destination
- AWO · Arlington, WA
- Airport
- AWO · Arlington Muni, runway 34, 5,333 × 100 ft, asphalt
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 46
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 810 total · 50 in this make and model
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 64 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.95 inHg
- Observed at
- KAWO
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N1078P · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.