# NTSB SEA98LA195: Evarts Kitfox IV 1200, N992WY, Sula, MT, September 26, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 26, 1998, 17:00 local (23:00 UTC) - Place: Sula, MT - Coordinates: 45.869297, -113.749366 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8693&lon=-113.7494&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 11, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 45309 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA98LA195 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/45309/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA195 ## Probable cause An excessive brake application by the pilot. Factors included a narrow landing area, the pilot's failure to maintain directional control during a 180-degree taxi turn, and a tailwind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi - from landing - airport facilities,runway/landing area condition - narrow (contributing factor) - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Nose over, taxi - from landing - brakes(normal) - improper use of, pilot in command (cause) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that after landing on a 24-foot-wide road, he initiated a 180-degree turn to the left in order to back-taxi to the tiedown area. He stated that as he steered the aircraft to the right (to give himself room to complete the 180-degree turn), he felt the aircraft 'being pulled...or pushed...too close to the edge of the road' (which has ditches and fences on both sides) and applied brakes. He stated that 'Between aggressive braking, forward momentum, and wind, the aircraft nosed over and landed upside down at the edge of the road....' While the pilot did not explicitly report his landing direction, he reported that he had 'an unusual easterly wind' for the landing, and that 'I have always been able to land to the west' at that location. The pilot reported that no mechanical failure or malfunction was involved. ## Factual narrative On September 26, 1998, approximately 1700 mountain daylight time, an Evarts Aviation Kitfox IV 1200, N992WY, was substantially damaged when it nosed over on the East Fork Road approximately 13 statute miles east-northeast of Sula, Montana, following a landing on the road. The private pilot of the experimental-category aircraft, who was its owner, builder, and sole occupant, was uninjured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR 91 personal flight from Wisdom, Montana. The pilot reported that he attempted a landing on the East Fork Road between mile markers 13 and 14. He reported that at this location, the road is straight and level for approximately 1/2 mile, and that the paved road is approximately 24 feet wide and has ditches and fences on both sides. The pilot stated: ...After landing and roll out, I initiated a 180 [degree] turn to the left in order to back taxi and tie the aircraft down. In order to widen the radius of the turn, I steered the aircraft to the right. At this point I felt as if I was being pulled (shoulder of road) or pushed (cross wind) too close to the edge of the road and applied brakes. Between aggressive braking, forward momentum, and wind, the aircraft nosed over and landed upside down at the edge of the road.... The pilot stated that the winds for the landing were from the east at speeds of 3 to 10 knots, and did not explicitly report his landing direction. The pilot reported that "my assessment of the wind during preparation to land suggested a slight quartering cross wind from the left", and stated that "My only concern was that this was an unusual easterly wind and I have always been able to land to the west." Local law enforcement personnel who responded to the accident scene reported that upon arriving at the scene, they observed the airplane on the north side of the road, 13.2 odometer miles east of the intersection of East Fork Road and U.S. highway 93 (the intersection is located in Sula.) The pilot reported that no mechanical malfunction or failure was involved in the accident. The pilot indicated on his NTSB accident report that the airplane received only minor damage in the occurrence. According to information furnished by the pilot with his NTSB accident report, repairs necessary to restore the airplane to airworthy condition include "re-align[ing]" bends to left and right lower fuselage stringers and a lower cross brace in the tail section of the airframe, and replacing fabric covering on certain areas of the wings, fuselage tail section, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot also reported that the top front section of the vertical stabilizer structural tubing "may be slightly bent." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N992WY](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N992WY), registered now, S/N LCU139, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Evarts Aviation Inc. KITFOX IV 1200 (KITFOX IV) - Registry model: [Evarts KITFOX IV 1200](https://openairdocs.org/model/evarts-kitfox-iv-1200) (registry code 05625PH) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: LCU139 - Airframe hours: 471 - Engines: Rotax 912UL 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Evarts Aviation Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 2, 1998, 33 hours before - Departed: 7S4, WISDOM, MT - Airport: runway 27, 2,600 × 24 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 557 total, 484 in this make and model, 525 as pilot in command, 52 in the last 90 days, 15 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 7 knots, gusting 10 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °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 19980926029269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980926029269A), Sep 26, 1998: Amtr KITFOX, Sula, MT, Substantial damage. Pilot lost control of the acft on landing, and the acft nosed over and camae to rest on its back.(-23)pilot reported he lost control of aircraft after landing… 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.