# NTSB WPR26LA087: Kitfox Series 7, N775DZ, Lemmon Valley-Golden Valley, NV, January 19, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 19, 2026, 09:33 local (17:33 UTC) - Place: Lemmon Valley-Golden Valley, NV - Coordinates: 39.84431, -119.8553 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=39.8443&lon=-119.8553&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report April 2, 2026 - 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): 202327 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA087 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202327/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202327 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA087 ## Probable cause The pilot’s inability to maintain clearance from terrain during a go-around. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Aircraft capability: climb capability](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Mcdonald Frank G III KITFOX SERIES 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md?model=05623SZ), [All aircraft, 183 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01061010/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Mcdonald Frank G III KITFOX SERIES 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=05623SZ), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Terrain: sloped/uneven terrain](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Mcdonald Frank G III KITFOX SERIES 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md?model=05623SZ), [All aircraft, 270 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021017/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing area overshoot](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380) (defining event); cases with it: [Mcdonald Frank G III KITFOX SERIES 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md?model=05623SZ), [All aircraft, 400 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/380/sequence.md) - [Approach-VFR go-around: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mcdonald Frank G III KITFOX SERIES 7, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05623SZ), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he had performed a stop-and-go in a dirt clearing with a slight upslope. The pilot attempted to land in the clearing a second time, but during the landing flare, the pilot realized that he was going to land about 50 to 100 ft past his previous landing point and observed large sticks and a dirt mound in the available landing area ahead of the airplane. The pilot said that he initiated a go-around by applying full power and noted that he did not have the performance while in the low energy state. Subsequently, the landing gear briefly contacted the ground and the left wing dropped before the airplane impacted terrain. During the accident sequence, the left wing, left flaperon, and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N775DZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N775DZ), registered now, S/N 1001, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Kitfox Series 7 - Registry model: [Mcdonald Frank G III KITFOX SERIES 7](https://openairdocs.org/model/mcdonald-frank-g-iii-kitfox-series-7) (registry code 05623SZ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912ULS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912uls-series) (registry code 55572, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1001 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 1212.1 - Engines: Rotax 912 ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 1, 2025 - Departed: RTS, Reno, NV - Airport: NONE, Hillside - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 25; injuries: serious; military, private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review July 22, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 354 total, 50 in this make and model, 67 as pilot in command, 113 in the last 90 days, 17 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 36 °F, dew point 25 °F - Altimeter: 30.36 inHg - Observed at: KRNO, 12 nm away - METAR: METAR KRNO 191755Z 00000KT 10SM CLR 02/M04 A3036 RMK AO2 SLP289 T00221044 10028 21039 51013 ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 2, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202327. 4.1 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=19852590&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120.1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� telephone interview, pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 122 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19981701&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19852167&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. --- 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.