# NTSB WPR26LA143: Paul D Cannon Kitfox Light Squared, N11446, Lincoln, CA, March 27, 2026 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 27, 2026, 09:22 local (16:22 UTC) - Place: Lincoln, CA - Coordinates: 38.909167, -121.35133 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.9092&lon=-121.3513&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 11, 2026 - 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): 202717 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR26LA143 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202717/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202717 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA143 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to properly flare the airplane during landing, which resulted in a hard landing and separation of the main landing gear. Contributing to the accident was the improper installation and over torquing of the landing gear attachment hardware, which reduced the load-carrying capacity of the landing gear clamping brackets. ## 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: [Paul D Cannon KITFOX LIGHT SQUARED, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05643BN), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/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: [Paul D Cannon KITFOX LIGHT SQUARED, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05643BN), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main landing gear attach sec](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect service/maintenance (probable cause); cases with it: [Paul D Cannon KITFOX LIGHT SQUARED, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md?model=05643BN), [All aircraft, 66 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023211/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Capability exceeded (probable cause); cases with it: [Paul D Cannon KITFOX LIGHT SQUARED, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=05643BN), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/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: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Paul D Cannon KITFOX LIGHT SQUARED, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05643BN), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Sys/Comp malf/fail (non-power)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330); cases with it: [Paul D Cannon KITFOX LIGHT SQUARED, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md?model=05643BN), [All aircraft, 994 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/330/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Paul D Cannon KITFOX LIGHT SQUARED, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05643BN), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Paul D Cannon KITFOX LIGHT SQUARED, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05643BN), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot/owner of the amateur-built airplane reported that, while performing touch-and-go landings, he failed to properly flare the airplane resulting in a hard landing. The landing loads exceeded the strength of the main landing gear attachment, which resulted in a separation of the main landing gear. The airplane subsequently departed the left side of the runway and struck the visual approach slope indicator lights, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing strut. The pilot/owner’s postaccident examination revealed that the aftermarket landing gear installation had been improperly installed. The attachment bolts had been overtorqued which preloaded and overstressed the hardware, reducing the load-carrying capability. The stripped attachment bolts allowed the clamping brackets to separate under load. The hard landing exceeded the reduced capacity of the landing gear attachment, resulting in a separation of the landing gear and a subsequent runway excursion. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N11446](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N11446), registered now, S/N C0203-0277, built 2025 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Paul D Cannon Kitfox Light Squared - Registry model: [Paul D Cannon KITFOX LIGHT SQUARED](https://openairdocs.org/model/paul-d-cannon-kitfox-light-squared) (registry code 05643BN) (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: C0203-0277 - Year built: 2026 - Airframe hours: 25.3 - Engines: ROTAX 912 ULS SERIES 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Continuous airworthiness, March 27, 2026 - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: LHM, Lincoln Regional / Karl Harder Field, runway 15, 6,001 × 100 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review March 17, 2026; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 122 total, 7 in this make and model, 77 as pilot in command, 7 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 29.99 inHg - Observed at: LHM - METAR: METAR KLHM 271615Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 13/10 A2999 RMK AO1 ## 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 20260327002089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260327002089A), Mar 27, 2026: Paul D Cannon KITFOX LIGHT SQUARED, Lincoln, CA, Substantial damage. Aircraft was on approach to landing for touch and go. Pilot attempted to flare and stated he may have stalled the wing. On contact with the runway the main… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 10, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202717. 3.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20177360&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=WPR26LA143%206120_1_Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photos (item 2, PDF, 5 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20176756&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photographs-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 83 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=20204331&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-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.