# NTSB SEA06CA089: Ely Kitfox III, N91JE, Lewiston, ID, April 26, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 26, 2006, 09:26 local (16:26 UTC) - Place: Lewiston, ID - Coordinates: 46.374443, -117.015274 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=46.3744&lon=-117.0153&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 3, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 63589 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA06CA089 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63589/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA06CA089 ## Probable cause Failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing roll from an aborted takeoff. Excessive use of the rudder to control the airplane, the subsequent inadvertent ground loop, and the inadequate supervision by the flight instructor were factors. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - aborted - rudder - excessive, dual student (contributing factor) - ground loop/swerve - inadvertent, dual student (contributing factor) - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, dual student (cause) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - runway ## Analysis The private pilot receiving instruction said that during the takeoff roll the airplane was "unable to achieve takeoff." The power was cut to abort the takeoff and the airplane appeared to angle toward a taxi way marker. "I over corrected to the left and caused the aircraft to ground loop." The flight instructor said that the cockpit was "pretty tight" for him, and he had some trouble manipulating the rudder pedals in size 13 shoes. He further stated that when the pilot receiving instruction made a rudder pedal input, the airplane ground-looped before he could do anything. ## Factual narrative On April 26, 2006, at 0926 Pacific daylight time, an Ely Kitfox III, N91JE, was substantially damaged when the airplane ground-looped during a takeoff attempt at Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport (LWS), Lewiston, Idaho. The flight instructor and private pilot receiving instruction were not injured. The private pilot/owner was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local instructional flight which was originating at the time of the accident. A flight plan had not been filed. The private pilot receiving instruction said that during the takeoff roll the airplane was "unable to achieve takeoff." The power was cut to abort the takeoff and the airplane appeared to angle toward a taxi way marker. "I over corrected to the left and caused the aircraft to ground loop." The flight instructor said that the cockpit was "pretty tight" for him, and he had some trouble manipulating the rudder peddles in size 13 shoes. He further stated that when the pilot receiving instruction made a rudder peddle input, the airplane ground-looped before he could do anything. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N91JE](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N91JE), registered now, S/N 1014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ely Kitfox III - Registry model: [ELY John KITFOX III](https://openairdocs.org/model/ely-john-kitfox-iii) (registry code 05618P7) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1014 - Airframe hours: 502 - Engines: Rotax 582 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Franklin R. Miles - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 1, 2005, 23 hours before - Departed: LWS, Lewiston, ID - Destination: LWS, Lewiston, ID - Airport: LWS, Lewiston-Nez Perce County Arpt, runway 11, 5,002 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 1, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 746 total, 2 in this make and model, 674 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 3 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 72; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 1, 2005; seat: right; flight hours: 13,000 total, 90 in the last 90 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 30° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: LWS ## 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 20060426005189A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060426005189A), Apr 26, 2006: Amtr KITFOXIII, Lewiston, ID, Substantial damage. (-23) The pilot [privacy data omitted] purchased this Kitfox iii last fall and was taking flight instruction from [privacy data omitted] to satisfy insurance… 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.