# NTSB WPR25LA227: Hartline J Bon Hartline Kitfox III, N422K, Logan, UT, July 22, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: July 22, 2025, 16:40 local (22:40 UTC)
- Place: Logan, UT · On airport
- Coordinates: 41.79, -111.85
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7900&lon=-111.8500&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report October 2, 2025
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: Federal Aviation Administration
- NTSB case key (mKey): 200648
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA227
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200648/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200648
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA227

## Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during takeoff in variable wind and high density altitude conditions.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Wind: crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Hartline J Bon HARTLINE KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md?model=9570360), [All aircraft, 1,008 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Hartline J Bon HARTLINE KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=9570360), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md)
- [Temp/humidity/pressure: high density altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Hartline J Bon HARTLINE KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md?model=9570360), [All aircraft, 278 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031020/cases.md)
- [Planning/preparation: weather planning](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Hartline J Bon HARTLINE KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md?model=9570360), [All aircraft, 156 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02061020/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Hartline J Bon HARTLINE KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=9570360), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Hartline J Bon HARTLINE KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=9570360), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Hartline J Bon HARTLINE KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=9570360), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Attempted remediation/recovery](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060); cases with it: [Hartline J Bon HARTLINE KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md?model=9570360), [All aircraft, 1,422 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/060/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Hartline J Bon HARTLINE KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=9570360), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during takeoff roll, the airplane did not lift off when expected, and that the controls were sluggish. He applied flaps and the airplane “popped up off the runway.” Once airborne, the airplane began to drift to the right and despite the pilot’s corrections, continued to drift to the right. Subsequently, the airplane descended, landed hard, and came to rest upright, about 90° off runway heading. The right wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. He added that prior to takeoff, he did not check the windsock prior to takeoff and did not compensate enough for the high density altitude and the airplane being near its maximum gross weight. At the time of the accident, the pilot was taking off on runway 28, with wind variable from 180° to 270° at 9 knots. The calculated density altitude at the time of the accident was 7,501 ft.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N422K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N422K), registered now, S/N 1000, built 1991 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: HARTLINE J BON HARTLINE KITFOX III
- Registry model: [Hartline J Bon HARTLINE KITFOX III](https://openairdocs.org/model/hartline-j-bon-hartline-kitfox-iii) (registry code 9570360) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1000
- Year built: 1991
- Airframe hours: 1270.6
- Engines: Rotax 912UL 80 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, July 20, 2024
- Airport: LGU, Logan Cache Airport, runway 28, 4,075 × 60 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 68; injuries: minor; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 2, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,109.7 total, 50.6 in this make and model, 926.3 as pilot in command, 41.3 in the last 90 days, 5.6 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 90 °F, dew point 36 °F
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observed at: KLGU
- METAR: METAR KLGU 222251Z AUTO 19007KT 10SM CLR 32/02 A2993

## 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 20250722020259A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250722020259A), Jul 22, 2025: Hartline J Bon HARTLINE KITFOX III, Logan, UT, Substantial damage. During takeoff, aircraft lost control and went off of the right side of runway 28. The gear collapsed and the right wing and fuselage sustained damage.

## Docket (2 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 2, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200648. 3.4 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19264417&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%206120_flat_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigation photos (item 2, PDF, 4 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19283568&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photos-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.

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