# NTSB WPR24LA177: Banes John Scott Kitfox Series 6, N506F, Parowan, UT, May 30, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: May 30, 2024, 16:10 local (22:10 UTC) - Place: Parowan, UT - Coordinates: 37.858599, -112.81745 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.8586&lon=-112.8174&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 April 29, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 194395 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR24LA177 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194395/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194395 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA177 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inability to control the airplane during landing due to tailwheel assembly damage sustained during a previous shimmy event that occurred for reasons that could not be determined based on the available evidence. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Not determined](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000): Not determined › Not determined · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Banes John Scott KITFOX SERIES 6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md?model=05617TY), [All aircraft, 2,247 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/05000000/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: nose/tail landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unknown/Not determined (probable cause); cases with it: [Banes John Scott KITFOX SERIES 6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md?model=05617TY), [All aircraft, 185 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023220/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Banes John Scott KITFOX SERIES 6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05617TY), [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: [Banes John Scott KITFOX SERIES 6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05617TY), [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: [Banes John Scott KITFOX SERIES 6, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md?model=05617TY), [All aircraft, 3,643 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/300/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that, during takeoff, he felt a shimmy in the tailwheel-equipped airplane. During the subsequent three-point landing, the airplane veered left immediately upon touchdown. The airplane departed the left side of runway and ground looped, which collapsed the right main landing gear and substantially damaged the right wing. An NTSB structures engineer’s review of postaccident photographs of the tailwheel assembly determined that deformation and fracture features on the fitting flanges on the extruded base of the tailwheel assembly were from a twisting motion about the single bolt that secured the tailwheel assembly to the suspension assembly, consistent with that resulting from a tailwheel shimmy event. The accident circumstances and damage evidence are consistent with a failure of the tailwheel assembly due to improper movement or rotation around the tailwheel attachment bolt during the shimmy event during takeoff, which resulted in a subsequent loss of control of the airplane during landing. However, the investigation could not determine if the shimmy event resulted from a loose attachment bolt, or if the movement around the attachment bolt resulted from the shimmy event. ## Factual narrative On May 30, 2024, about 1610 mountain daylight time, an amateur-built experimental Kitfox, N506F, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Parowan, Utah. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot had recently purchased the tailwheel equipped airplane and was conducting a cross-country flight to reposition the airplane. He reported that during takeoff for the accident flight he felt a shimmy in the airplane. He subsequently performed a three-point landing on runway 22 at Parowan Airport (1L9), Parowan, Utah. He reported that, immediately on touchdown, the airplane “unexplainably and severely turned left, and departed the runway” and ground looped. The right main landing gear collapsed, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing. The pilot reported the wind was light and variable at the time of landing and there were no gusts. The airplane was equipped with a Matco, 11-inch, dual fork tailwheel assembly. Postaccident photographs of the airplane provided by the pilot showed that, at the accident scene, the tailwheel assembly was partially displaced to the left side of the airplane and the tailwheel was deflected to the right. The pilot also provided photographs taken of the tailwheel assembly after it was removed from the airplane, including several showing that the fitting flanges on the extruded base of the tailwheel assembly were damaged and fractured on both sides. The pilot reported that he examined the airplane’s brakes and no anomalies were found. A full examination of the tailwheel assembly was not conducted. An NTSB structures engineer’s review of the pilot-provided photographs determined that the damaged and fracture features on the extruded base fitting flanges resulted from a twisting motion about the single bolt that secured the tailwheel assembly to the suspension assembly (see figure). Figure. Damaged tailwheel assembly. (Source: Pilot.) The mode of fracture could not be determined from the photographs, but the deformation suggests shear overload on the flanges consistent with that resulting from a tailwheel shimmy event. Under normal operations, the tailwheel is designed caster about the vertical tailwheel axle such that there should be no rotation of the tailwheel about the attachment bolt that secures the tailwheel assembly to the suspension assembly. The investigation could not determine if the shimmy event resulted from a loose attachment bolt, or if the movement around the attachment bolt resulted from the shimmy event. The pilot reported that the airplane’s most recent condition inspection was performed on October 28, 2023. No detail about any specific pre-accident maintenance or inspection of the tailwheel was provided. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N506F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N506F), registered now, S/N S60109-063, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BANES JOHN SCOTT KITFOX SERIES 6 - Registry model: [Banes John Scott KITFOX SERIES 6](https://openairdocs.org/model/banes-john-scott-kitfox-series-6) (registry code 05617TY) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: S60109-063 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 855 - Engines: Rotax 912 ULS-2 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jet Logics LLC and Steven Thompson - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 8, 2023 - Departed: CAG, Craig, CO - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 1L9, Parowan, runway 04/22, 5,000 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review December 15, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 10,179 total, 24 in this make and model, 6,343 as pilot in command, 80 in the last 90 days, 41 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 28 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: KCDC, 16 nm away - METAR: KCDC 302153Z AUTO 36007KT 300V040 10SM CLR 25/M02 A3011 RMK AO2 SLP128 T02501017 ## 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 20240530007339A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240530007339A), May 30, 2024: Banes John Scott KITFOX SERIES 6, Parowan, UT, Substantial damage. Pilot was landing at airport 1L9 and lost control for undetremined reasons. Aircraft departed runway to the left. The right main gear collapsed and the right… ## Docket (6 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194395. 6.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19619703&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation - pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20190450&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20-%20Pilot%20Interview%20Summary_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Mfr - tailwheel assembly evaluation (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 74 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20194756&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20-%20Tailwheel%20Assembly%20Evaluation-Rel.pdf - Mfr - tailwheel product information (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 185 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20189661&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20-%20Tailwheel%20Manufacturer%20Information_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 5, PDF, 8 pages, 7 photos, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19464608&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos%20WPR24LA177-Rel.pdf - Tailwheel diagram (item 6, PDF, 1 page, 172 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19464455&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Madco%20Tailwheel%20Diagram-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.