# NTSB WPR26LA029: Roderick James Willmore Kitfox S7 Supersport, N98RW, Kilgore, ID, October 18, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: October 18, 2025, 13:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place: Kilgore, ID
- Coordinates: 44.401333, -111.88966
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.4013&lon=-111.8897&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report January 15, 2026
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Western Pacific Region
- Parties: FAA- FSDO SLC
- NTSB case key (mKey): 201904
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA029
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201904/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201904
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA029

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the separation of the control stick grip.

## Findings

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

- [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Roderick James Willmore KITFOX S7 SUPERSPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=056396L), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Roderick James Willmore KITFOX S7 SUPERSPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056396L), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Flight control system: control column section](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022701): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Inadequate inspection; cases with it: [Roderick James Willmore KITFOX S7 SUPERSPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022701/cases.md?model=056396L), [All aircraft, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022701/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Takeoff: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Roderick James Willmore KITFOX S7 SUPERSPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=056396L), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Roderick James Willmore KITFOX S7 SUPERSPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=056396L), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Roderick James Willmore KITFOX S7 SUPERSPORT, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=056396L), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that, during the takeoff roll on a dirt road, he realized he had not reset the pitch trim until he was applying control inputs to lift the tail up. As he applied back-pressure to the control stick to get the airplane airborne, the control stick grip slipped off, and he lost control of the airplane. The airplane then veered to the right, and despite his attempts, he was unable to regain control of the airplane. Subsequently, the airplane exited the road surface, and the left wing impacted the ground, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no additional preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N98RW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N98RW), registered now, S/N KA 19012436, built 2020 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: RODERICK JAMES WILLMORE KITFOX S7 SUPERSPORT
- Registry model: [Roderick James Willmore KITFOX S7 SUPERSPORT](https://openairdocs.org/model/roderick-james-willmore-kitfox-s7-supersport) (registry code 056396L) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912-series) (registry code 55606, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: KA 19012436
- Year built: 2020
- Airframe hours: 229
- Engines: Rotax 912 ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, July 2, 2025
- Departed: U12, St. Anthony, ID
- Airport: N/A
- Equipment: ADS-B

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, unknown; last flight review November 9, 2024; seat: left; flight hours: 1,065 total, 260 in this make and model, 994 as pilot in command, 27 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days, 0 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 260° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 50 °F, dew point 25 °F
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observed at: KRXE, 37 nm away
- METAR: 	
METAR KRXE 181953Z AUTO 26005KT 10SM CLR 10/M04 A3020 RMK AO2 SLP222 T01001044=

## 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 20251018017789A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251018017789A), Oct 18, 2025: Roderick James Willmore KITFOX S7 SUPERSPORT, Killgore, ID, Substantial damage. On 10/18/2025 at approximately 1930Z (1330 LCL), N98RW, a Kitfox S7 supersport, lost control during takeoff on a dirt road approximately 25 miles NE of dubois…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 15, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=201904. 2.7 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19540814&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Memorandum for record (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 230 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19751116&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photos (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 831 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19542206&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20array-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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