# NTSB SEA96LA093: Crescenzi Kitfox, N2094J, Terrebonne, OR, May 13, 1996 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 12, 1996, 17:00 local (May 13, 1996, 00:00 UTC) - Place: Terrebonne, OR - Coordinates: 44.41003, -121.289894 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4100&lon=-121.2899&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report February 28, 1997 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42366 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA96LA093 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42366/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA96LA093 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions and failure to maintain altitude/clearance above terrain, while maneuvering to land. The unfavorable wind was a related factor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering - weather condition - unfavorable wind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - altitude/clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he encountered windshear while approaching to land at his personal airstrip. On site examination revealed that the aircraft collided with terrain, leaving a ground track distribution of only 12 feet, characteristic of a high rate of descent with little forward speed. Law enforcement personnel on site immediately following the accident reported that the winds were only gusting to approximately 7 mph. Three paramedics, who attended to the pilot on site following the accident, reported detecting the odor of alcohol on the pilot's breath. The pilot received a serious back injury during the accident and refused both a field sobriety test for alcohol as well as the drawing of a blood or urine sample for alcohol. ## Factual narrative On May 12, 1996, approximately 1700 hours Pacific daylight time, a homebuilt Crescenzi Kitfox , N2094J, being flown by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage during a collision with terrain while reportedly on base leg to a private airstrip approximately nine nautical miles west of Terrebonne, Oregon. The pilot sustained serious back injuries. Visual meteorological conditions existed at the time and no flight plan had been filed. The flight, which was personal, was to have been operated under 14CFR91, and, according to the pilot's statement to the Board, originated from the Redmond Municipal Airport, Redmond, Oregon, approximately 30 minutes prior to the accident. On site examination of the crash site by an FAA inspector revealed a total ground track distribution of 12 feet with extensive damage to the underside of the aircraft's fuselage. The pilot reported to the inspector that he originated from a private airstrip at his residence approximately two nautical miles north of the accident site and was trying to climb out of a downdraft when the aircraft impacted the ground. In his written statement to the Board, the pilot reported that he was "on an extended l(ef)t base for my airstrip maintaining a shallow descent" and that "suddenly a huge mass of air is pushing me down." He reported that the aircraft "impacted the ground in a level attitude" and that it "happened very quickly." The nearest charted airstrip is located 2 nautical miles west of the accident based upon the pilot's submitted accident site location in his report to the Board (refer to CHARTS I and II). The reporting officer who wrote the Deschutes County Sheriff's Report (Case number 96-7383) stated in part that upon his arrival at the accident site the wind was "gusting up to approximately 7 mph" and that "even after being told he had two compression fractures in his spine, (the pilot) was still attempting to get up and walk away from the hospital. He would not lie down on the gurney as requested by the medical staff. He continually was sitting upright and several times would attempt to walk away. When we asked Heller (the pilot) if he would submit to some field sobriety tests, it was then he decided that he was not able to sit up and had to lay down on the stretcher due to his injuries. Heller refused to submit to any form of FST's (field sobriety tests), even those that did not require that he stand or walk. Heller also refused to submit to a blood or urine sample to test for the presence of alcohol or controlled substances" (refer to attached report). Three paramedics attended to the pilot on the accident site. All three reported detecting the odor of alcohol on the pilot's breath (refer to attached statements). ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2094J](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2094J-2013-09-24), registration cancelled 2013-09-24, S/N 365, built 1990 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Crescenzi KITFOX - Registry model: [Crescenzi Jack R KITFOX](https://openairdocs.org/model/crescenzi-jack-r-kitfox) (registry code 05616UP) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 365 - Airframe hours: 185 - Engines: Rotax 532LC 64 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Heller, David, E. - Registered owner: Crescenzi, Jack, R. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: SISTERS, OR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 37; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 920 total, 175 in this make and model, 920 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 330° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: RDM, 10 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 19960512019949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960512019949A), May 12, 1996: Amtr KITFOX, Terrebonne, OR, Substantial damage. (.4)The pilot reported that he encountered windshear while approaching to land at his personal airstrip. On site examination revealed that the aircraft… 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.