McHugh Tony KITFOX MODEL 1 N428YT

Summary

On 7 August 2015 at about 22:55 local time, a McHugh Tony KITFOX MODEL 1 registered N428YT was involved in an accident near Montrose, Pennsylvania, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

7 August 2015 at 22:55

Classification

Accident

Location

Montrose, Pennsylvania, United States

Nearest airport

Private Airstrip (PVT)

Coordinates

41.8239, -75.8778

Aircraft

McHugh Tony KITFOX MODEL 1

Registration

N428YT

Category

Airplane

Year built

2010

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Endicott → Montrose

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA15FA298

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during final approach, which resulted in the airplane's wing exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot/owner of the experimental amateur-built airplane was attempting to land on the 431-ft-long grass airstrip for the first time. According to a witness, before the accident, the pilot had flown three practice approaches without landing. The witness reported that, during the fourth approach, the airplane entered a steep-bank-angle turn onto final approach and then "went straight down" to ground impact. The airplane came to rest on its nose, and a fire erupted. The witness' description of the event and the impact geometry are consistent with the pilot conducting a steep turn that resulted in the wing exceeding its critical angle-of-attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall. Examination of the wreckage did not reveal evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the airframe or engine.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.