# NTSB WPR09LA427: Stone Kitfox Series 6, N2070A, May, ID, August 30, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: August 29, 2009, 18:20 local (Aug 30, 2009, 00:20 UTC) - Place: May, ID - Coordinates: 44.605556, -113.908607 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6056&lon=-113.9086&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 2 serious - Status: Completed, report July 22, 2010 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74625 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09LA427 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74625/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74625 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09LA427 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from obstacles during the takeoff initial climb. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Stone DR Leslie H KITFOX SERIES 6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=05614JT), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Stone DR Leslie H KITFOX SERIES 6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md?model=05614JT), [All aircraft, 111 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041000/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Stone DR Leslie H KITFOX SERIES 6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=05614JT), [All aircraft, 588 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Stone DR Leslie H KITFOX SERIES 6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=05614JT), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot planned to write an article for a local aeronautical publication following dinner at a restaurant located about 1/4-mile from the airport. Following dinner, the pilot's wife planned to take pictures from the air. The weather was clear, and the wind was calm. The pilot took off, and he made a low altitude turn toward the restaurant. He did not see power lines located about 40 feet above the ground, and while turning the airplane impacted the lines. The pilot reported that no mechanical malfunction or failure with his airplane precipitated the accident. ## Factual narrative On August 29, 2009, about 1820 mountain daylight time, a Stone Kitfox Series 6, N2070A, impacted several residential power lines during initial climb about 1/8-mile from the May Airport, May, Idaho. The experimental airplane crashed into an adjacent field and was substantially damaged. The private pilot and passenger were seriously injured. The pilot owned, operated, and built the airplane. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed. The personal flight was performed under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91, and it was originating at the time of the accident. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that he and his wife had flown to the May Airport for dinner. Before the accident flight, the pilot had never been to this airport. The pilot planned to write an article for a local aeronautical publication regarding his flying experience and dinner at the airport-based restaurant, and his wife planned to take pictures of the restaurant from the air. After dinner, the pilot took off, and he made a low altitude turn toward the restaurant. The pilot stated that the weather was clear, and the wind was calm. The pilot had no recollection of observing the power lines prior to impacting them. He further reported that no mechanical malfunction or failure with his airplane precipitated the accident. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) coordinator examined the airplane wreckage. The FAA coordinator stated to the Safety Board investigator that the airplane engine's spark plug electrodes appeared in serviceable condition, fuel was found in a tank, and no external visual evidence of any preimpact malfunction was noted. The FAA coordinator estimated that the runway was located about 1/4-mile from the restaurant. The 40-foot-high power lines were located about midway between the runway and the restaurant. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2070A](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2070A-2010-09-21), registration cancelled 2010-09-21, S/N S60009-037, built 2003 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: STONE Kitfox Series 6 - Registry model: [Stone DR Leslie H KITFOX SERIES 6](https://openairdocs.org/model/stone-dr-leslie-h-kitfox-series-6) (registry code 05614JT) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: S60009-037 - Airframe hours: 426 - Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 29, 2009, 30 hours before - Departed: 0U8, May, ID - Destination: U56, Rigby, ID - Airport: 0U8, May, runway 27, 4,950 × 200 ft, dirt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 21, 2006; seat: left; flight hours: 682 total, 426 in this make and model, 652 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken ## 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 20090829014699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090829014699A), Aug 29, 2009: Amtr KITFOX, May, ID, Destroyed. (-23) On 08/29/2009, N2070A s/n S6009-037, experimental, Kitfox series 6 took off from May. Idaho airport (0U8) at 1920 local. Aircraft used runway 27 and… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 18, 2010, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74625. 8.7 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 8.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40319063&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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.