# NTSB WPR22LA082: Wight Albert A Kitfox Speedster, N139KF, Shelton, WA, January 21, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 21, 2022, 14:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Shelton, WA - Coordinates: 47.1428, -123.0857 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.1428&lon=-123.0857&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 104550 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA082 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104550/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104550 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA082 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Wight Albert A KITFOX SPEEDSTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05625P5), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Wight Albert A KITFOX SPEEDSTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05625P5), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Wight Albert A KITFOX SPEEDSTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05625P5), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Wight Albert A KITFOX SPEEDSTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05625P5), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Wight Albert A KITFOX SPEEDSTER, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05625P5), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that while landing his amateur built tailwheel equipped airplane, he experienced a ground loop to the left. Subsequently the right main wheel fell inside of a hole. The pilot stated the impact with the hole removed the right wheel causing structural damage to the right-side of the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N139KF](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N139KF), registered now, S/N KCS139, built 1993 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WIGHT ALBERT A KITFOX SPEEDSTER - Registry model: [Wight Albert A KITFOX SPEEDSTER](https://openairdocs.org/model/wight-albert-a-kitfox-speedster) (registry code 05625P5) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: KCS139 - Year built: 1996 - Airframe hours: 1150 - Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Kroy Richardson - Registered owner: Kroy Richardson - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, July 1, 2021 - Departed: KSHN, Shelton, WA - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: SHN, Sanderson Field, runway 23, 5,000 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 40; injuries: none; flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review January 3, 2021; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 3,132 total, 1 in this make and model, 3,012 as pilot in command, 663 in the last 90 days, 29 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,600 ft broken - Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.62 inHg - Observed at: KSHN - METAR: SA 21/01/2022 20:53-> METAR KSHN 212053Z AUTO VRB03KT 10SM OVC007 07/05 A3062 RMK AO2 SLP373 T00670050 58008= ## 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 20220121000799A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220121000799A), Jan 21, 2022: Wight Albert A KITFOX SPEEDSTER, Shelton, WA, Substantial damage. Ground loop during landing rollout on rwy 23. Substantial aircraft damage during ground loop. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on March 18, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104550. 7.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 7.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13174565&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Reporting_RedactedFlat-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 393 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13233814&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%201-Rel.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.