# NTSB WPR14CA279: Wiley Kitfox IV, N5KW, Sprague, WA, July 3, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 2, 2014, 20:30 local (Jul 3, 2014, 03:30 UTC) - Place: Sprague, WA - Coordinates: 47.304443, -117.961669 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3044&lon=-117.9617&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report September 30, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Adminstration - NTSB case key (mKey): 89599 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA279 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89599/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89599 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA279 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from powerlines during the landing approach resulting in a collision. ## 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: [Wiley Kenneth KITFOX IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=05625E8), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Wiley Kenneth KITFOX IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=05625E8), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance: wire](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Wiley Kenneth KITFOX IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022032/cases.md?model=05625E8), [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. - [Approach: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Wiley Kenneth KITFOX IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05625E8), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Approach: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Wiley Kenneth KITFOX IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=05625E8), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to practice taxiing in his recently purchased airplane. While taxiing, the airplane unintentionally became airborne and the pilot decided that in an effort to not collide with an electric fence ahead, he would need to add full power and fly the airplane in a traffic pattern to come back and land. Despite being aware of a powerline in the area, the pilot collided with it during his third landing attempt. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to practice taxiing in his recently purchased airplane. While taxiing, the airplane unintentionally became airborne which the pilot accredited to a combination of a weather inversion, vortex generators, and a three-blade propeller which produced enough lift at a slow groundspeed. The pilot decided that in an effort to not collide with an electric fence ahead, he would need to add full power and fly the airplane in a traffic pattern to come back and land. The pilot maneuvered to land on his grass strip and aborted the landing after assessing that the terrain would not be suitable. He maneuvered to an area about 0.5 miles away knowing that the terrain would be flat and adequate length. He was familiar with the area and knew that powerlines ran perpendicular to his flight path. During the approach, he again elected to go-around and configured the airplane for his third attempt to land. While on the final approach, the pilot reduced the power and the airplane rapidly lost altitude, resulting in a collision with the powerlines and collision with the ground. The pilot reported no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5KW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5KW), registered now, S/N 1658, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WILEY Kitfox IV - Registry model: [Wiley Kenneth KITFOX IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/wiley-kenneth-kitfox-iv) (registry code 05625E8) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1658 - Year built: 1994 - Airframe hours: 806 - Engines: Rotax 912 UL reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Walker Mark L - Registered owner: Walker Mark L - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, September 2, 2013 - Departed: Sprague, WA - Destination: Sprague, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 54; injuries: serious; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; seat: left; flight hours: 80 total, 0 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 27.55 inHg ## 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 20140702010439A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140702010439A), Jul 2, 2014: Wiley Kenneth KITFOX IV, Sprague, WA, Substantial damage. Pilot stated he was taxiing the aircraft and became airborne. He made several attempts at landing and flew to his sisters residence to attempt to land. On the… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 25, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89599. 5.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 2 photos, 5.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40416861&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.