# NTSB WPR11FA153: Volin Kitfox Classic IV, N4374K, Myrtle Creek, OR, March 4, 2011 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: March 4, 2011, 13:17 local (21:17 UTC) - Place: Myrtle Creek, OR - Coordinates: 41.997222, -123.315277 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.9972&lon=-123.3153&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 19, 2011 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 78496 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR11FA153 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/78496/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78496 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR11FA153 ## Probable cause The pilot's encounter with a windshear/downdraft that exceeded the climb performance capabilities of the airplane. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Volin Tom KITFOX CLASSIC IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=056055N), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md) - [Wind: downdraft](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Volin Tom KITFOX CLASSIC IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md?model=056055N), [All aircraft, 178 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034035/cases.md) - [Wind: windshear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Volin Tom KITFOX CLASSIC IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md?model=056055N), [All aircraft, 90 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390) (defining event); cases with it: [Volin Tom KITFOX CLASSIC IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?model=056055N), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md) - [Initial climb: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240); cases with it: [Volin Tom KITFOX CLASSIC IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=056055N), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Volin Tom KITFOX CLASSIC IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056055N), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that while taxiing to the runway run-up area, he observed the windsock aligned with his intended departure runway. Following an uneventful engine run up, the pilot taxied onto the runway and observed the windsock shift direction momentarily to indicate about a 90 degree crosswind, and then realign with the runway. The pilot initiated the takeoff roll, and the airplane lifted off normally. During the initial climb, the pilot scanned all of the flight instruments, noting a positive climb rate. Shortly thereafter, the airplane encountered a wind gust from the left, rolling the airplane about 90 degrees to the right. The pilot leveled the wings and felt the airplane descending. Despite the pilot's attempts to arrest the descent, the airplane continued to descend. Subsequently, the airplane struck several small trees and impacted the ground. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Review of recorded weather data from a weather station near the accident site revealed wind from 170 degrees at 7 knots, gusting to 19 knots about 24 minutes before the accident. About 36 minutes after the accident, the wind was recorded from 180 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 26 knots. ## Factual narrative On March 4, 2011, about 1317 Pacific standard time, an experimental amateur built Volin Kitfox Classic IV, N4374K, sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain near the Myrtle Creek Airport (16S), Myrtle Creek, Oregon. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The private pilot, the sole occupant of the airplane, was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed for the personal flight. The cross-country flight was originating at the time of the accident with an intended destination of North Bend, Oregon. In a written statement, the pilot reported that when he initially landed at 16S, the wind was favoring runway 21. During the landing roll, he "felt a push from the rear of the [air]plane like the wind had changed directions." After taxiing the airplane to the parking area, he noticed that the wind had shifted and was favoring runway 3. The pilot then secured the airplane and went inside the airport terminal area. Several minutes later, the pilot returned to the airplane, conducted a pre-flight inspection, and noted nothing abnormal with the airplane. The pilot taxied to the run up area for runway 3 and conducted an engine run up, noting the wind sock was aligned directly down the runway. Shortly after that, the pilot announced his intentions for departure over the common traffic advisory frequency as he observed the windsock shift directions momentarily to 90-degrees to the runway then back to being aligned with the runway direction. The pilot stated that he then initiated his takeoff roll. Following a normal lift off, he conducted a scan of the engine instruments, observing an engine rpm of 2,890 and climb rate of about 850 feet per minute while ascending through an altitude of 1,150 feet mean sea level (msl). About 5 to 10 seconds after his initial instrument scan, the airplane "was hit by a gust of wind from the left side of the [air]plane that turned the [air]plane perpendicular." The pilot further stated that he corrected to wings level and felt that the airplane was losing lift. He noted that at this point, the airplane had lost about 200 feet of altitude and he saw two large pine trees directly in front of the airplane. The pilot initiated a left turn "into where the wind came from looking for lift." The pilot began looking for an area to land and located an open grassy area to the left of his position on the other side of several smaller trees. As the airplane continued to lose altitude, he observed a red engine warning light illuminate. Subsequently, the airplane struck a group of small trees and descended into the ground. He stated that from the time of the wind gust to the impact with the ground was approximately 8 seconds. He added that "as to the cause of the crash, I cannot say if it was a wind anomaly or mechanical failure." During a telephone conversation with the National TransportationSafety Board investigator-in-charge (IIC) the afternoon of the accident, the pilot said that the airplane was ascending through about 300 feet above ground level (agl) when the left wing lifted abruptly, rolling the airplane into an approximately 90-degree right bank, and that the airplane began to descend. The pilot was able to return the airplane to a level attitude; however, despite his control inputs, he was unable to arrest the descent. The pilot further reported in a separate telephone conversation, he thought the red light he observed may have been an "engine over rev warning light." Local law enforcement reported that the airplane came to rest in a vertical attitude. The engine appeared to be compressed aft into the cabin area. The left and right wing leading edges were crushed aft. The wreckage was recovered to a secure location for further examination. Examination of the recovered airframe revealed that flight control continuity was established throughout the airplane from the cockpit controls to all primary flight controls. Continuity of the pitot system was established from the left wing to the airspeed indicator within the instrument panel. Examination of the recovered engine revealed that all four cylinders remained attached to the crankcase. The carburetor was separated from its mount. All eight spark plugs were removed from the engine. The engine crankshaft was rotated by hand using the propeller. Thumb compression was noted on all four cylinders and rotational continuity was established throughout the engine and valve train. Impact damage was noted to the left ignition distributor. The right ignition distributor was intact and undamaged. The wooden propeller assembly remained attached to the crankshaft propeller flange. One of the wooden propeller blades was separated at the blade root. The other propeller blade remained attached intact. No mechanical anomalies were observed with the recovered airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation. Review of recorded weather information from the Automated Surface Observing System (ASOS) located at the Roseburg Regional Airport, about 14 miles north of the accident site revealed at 1253, wind was from 170 degrees at 7 knots, gusting to 19 knots. At 1353, the ASOS recorded wind from 180 degrees at 13 knots, gusting to 26 knots. The reported elevation for 16S was 619 feet msl. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4374K](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4374K-2013-05-09), registration cancelled 2013-05-09, S/N C9502-0099, built 2010 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: VOLIN KITFOX CLASSIC IV - Registry model: [Volin Tom KITFOX CLASSIC IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/volin-tom-kitfox-classic-iv) (registry code 056055N) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Jabiru 2200](https://openairdocs.org/engine/jabiru-2200) (registry code 34800, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: C9502-0099 - Airframe hours: 18 - Engines: Jabiru 2200A 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, November 3, 2010, 18 hours before - Departed: 16S, Myrtle Creek, OR - Destination: North Bend, OR - Airport: 16S, Myrtle Creek Municipal Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 1, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 460 total, 20 in this make and model, 400 as pilot in command, 18 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 13 knots, gusting 26 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 7,000 ft broken - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: RBG, 14 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 20110304005819A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20110304005819A), Mar 4, 2011: Volin Tom KITFOX CLASSIC IV, Myrtle Creek, OR, Destroyed. Pilot reported landing on rwy 21 with winds gusty from south, without problems. After short stay on ground, pilot reported seeing windsock shift directions,… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 20, 2011, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=78496. 2.9 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 486 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351302&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Record of Conversations (Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351298&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversations%20(Pilot)-Master.PDF - Wreckage Examination Summary (item 3, .PDF, 79 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350719&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Wreckage%20Examination%20Summary-Master.PDF - Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 (item 4, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40350734&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Release%20of%20Aircraft%20Wreckage,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.15-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: View of the main wreckage. Courtesy of local law enforcement. (item 5, .PDF, 572 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351299&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20View%20of%20the%20main%20wreckage.%20Courtesy%20of%20local%20law%20enforcement.-Master.PDF - Photo 2: View of the main wreckage. Courtesy of local law enforcement. (item 6, .PDF, 620 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40351300&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20View%20of%20the%20main%20wreckage.%20Courtesy%20of%20local%20law%20enforcement.-Master.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.