Oliver Lawrence R KITFOX IV 1200 N76478

Summary

On 11 February 2018 at about 20:40 local time, a Oliver Lawrence R KITFOX IV 1200 registered N76478 was involved in an accident near Carson City, Nevada, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

11 February 2018 at 20:40

Classification

Accident

Location

Carson City, Nevada, United States

Nearest airport

Carson (CXP)

Coordinates

39.1922, -119.7317

Aircraft

Oliver Lawrence R KITFOX IV 1200

Registration

N76478

Category

Airplane

Year built

1995

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Carson City → Carson City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA18CA123

Nobody was injured.

The flight instructor’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll and lateral control during the go-around in gusting crosswind conditions. Contributing to the accident was the lack of communication between the flight instructor and the pilot receiving instruction.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot receiving instruction in the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that he taxied to a runway for takeoff and then realized that the wind favored the opposite runway. He taxied to the opposite runway, performed a run-up, and discussed the takeoff and traffic pattern procedures with the flight instructor. After takeoff and completing a circuit in the pattern, while on final approach in gusting wind conditions, the flight instructor took the flight controls to correct the airplane's alignment with the runway. The pilot receiving instruction added that the flight instructor corrected the alignment and landed the airplane. After landing, a wind gust pushed the airplane to the right, and the airplane exited the runway and impacted sagebrush. The flight instructor reported that, before the flight, he told the pilot receiving instruction that it was "not a flying day" and suggested practicing wind correction during taxi. He added that they decided to taxi down the runway to the first turnoff, but the pilot receiving instruction applied takeoff power and, he did not know why. He added that the airplane became airborne and that he took control during final, landing, and the landing roll but was not able to maintain directional control. He applied full power to go around but "chose to wheel land in the small sagebrush" instead. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot receiving instruction reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The automated weather observation station located on the airport reported that, about 5 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 210° at 9 knots, gusting to 26 knots. The airplane landed on runway 27.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.