# NTSB SEA98LA019: Blue Denney Kitfox Model 3, N89DD, Caldwell, ID, December 4, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 4, 1997, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Caldwell, ID
- Coordinates: 43.660758, -116.630775 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.6608&lon=-116.6308&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Serious injuries
- Injuries: 1 serious
- Status: Completed, report May 4, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42741
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA98LA019
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42741/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA019

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command
- In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - base leg/base to final

## Analysis

The pilot reported that he had just taken off and made a climbing left turn to downwind to practice a touch-and-go landing.  The pilot stated that he was unclear as to what happened, but thought that he let the aircraft get too slow and the wing stalled.  Witnesses on the ground reported that the airplane made a 'sharp left turn' while turning onto final approach.  The airplane nosed-down and descended into the terrain.  There was no evidence found to indicate a mechanical failure or malfunction.

## Factual narrative

On December 4, 1997, about 1430 mountain standard time, N89DD, a homebuilt Blue Denney Kitfox Model 3 airplane, impacted terrain and was substantially damaged while approaching to land at an airport in Caldwell, Idaho.  The private pilot, who was the sole occupant, was seriously injured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed.  The local flight was conducted under 14 CFR 91.

In a written statement, the pilot reported that after takeoff, he made a climbing left turn to downwind to practice a touch-and-go landing.  The pilot stated that he was unclear as to what happened, but thought that he let the aircraft get too slow and the wing stalled.

According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) aviation safety inspector from Boise, Idaho, witnesses observed the airplane in a "sharp left turn" while turning onto final approach to runway 30 at the Caldwell Airport.  The airplane was then observed to nose down and descend into terrain about 1/4-mile east of the runway centerline.  No pre-impact mechanical malfunctions were reported.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N89DD](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N89DD-1999-08-31), registration cancelled 1999-08-31, S/N 245R (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Blue Denney KITFOX MODEL 3 (KITFOX MOD)
- Registry model: [Blue Ray 3 (KITFOX)](https://openairdocs.org/model/blue-ray-3-kitfox) (registry code 05625S3) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 245R
- Airframe hours: 69
- Engines: Rotax 912 80 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Ray I. Blue
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, August 15, 1997, 4 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 57; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 730 total, 38 in this make and model, 631 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 37 °F

## 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 19971204036989A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971204036989A), Dec 4, 1997: Amtr KITFOXIII, Caldwell, ID, Substantial damage. Circ unk while landing acft impacted right of centerline 1/4 mile east of rwy 12/30 at Caldwell arpt. Caldwell, ID. (.4)the pilot reported that he had just…

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.