# NTSB WPR22LA108: Kitfox S7, N1248, Phoenix, AZ, February 20, 2022

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: February 19, 2022, 17:20 local (Feb 20, 2022, 00:20 UTC)
- Place: Phoenix, AZ · KDVT
- Coordinates: 33.688306, -112.08255 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6883&lon=-112.0825&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: 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
- NTSB case key (mKey): 104701
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR22LA108
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/104701/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104701
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR22LA108

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare and subsequent failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing, which resulted in a runway excursion.

## 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: [Terry D Johnstone KITFOX S7 SUPERSPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05639ZV), [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: [Terry D Johnstone KITFOX S7 SUPERSPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05639ZV), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Terry D Johnstone KITFOX S7 SUPERSPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05639ZV), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Terry D Johnstone KITFOX S7 SUPERSPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05639ZV), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Runway excursion](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300); cases with it: [Terry D Johnstone KITFOX S7 SUPERSPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05639ZV), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that during landing, the airplane touched down on the asphalt runway and bounced. The airplane veered left and exited the runway and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to forward left wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N1248](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N1248-2025-05-13), registration cancelled 2025-05-13, S/N KA18066364, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Kitfox S7 (SS)
- Registry model: [Terry D Johnstone KITFOX S7 SUPERSPORT](https://openairdocs.org/model/terry-d-johnstone-kitfox-s7-supersport) (registry code 05639ZV) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: KA18066364
- Year built: 2018
- Airframe hours: 0
- Engines: Rotax 912 ULS 155 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, May 8, 2021
- Departed: BXK, Buckeye, AZ
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: DVT, Phoenix Deer Valley, runway 7R, 8,196 × 100 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Stall warning system, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Auto-pilot

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 73; injuries: none; private, flight engineer, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: sport pilot, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 14,435 total, 42.8 in this make and model, 10,672 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 21.6 in the last 30 days, 2.5 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dusk
- Wind: 210° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 18 °F
- Altimeter: 29.99 inHg
- Observed at: KDVT
- METAR: KDVT 200053Z 21004KT 10SM CLR 23/M08 A2999 RMK AO2 SLP142 T02281083

## 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 20220219002159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20220219002159A), Feb 19, 2022: Terry D Johnstone KITFOX S7 SUPERSPORT, Phoenix, AZ, Substantial damage. PIC woke up at approximately 4AM. Preflight was completed and aircraft was flown to a competition with an arrival around 8:45AM. PIC walked around the…

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 20, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=104701. 1.9 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13527115&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photograph (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 255 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13521796&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photograph-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.