Skystar KITFOX SER 5 SAFARI N14GX

Summary

On 13 October 2018 at about 23:00 local time, a Skystar KITFOX SER 5 SAFARI registered N14GX was involved in an accident near Monte Vista, Colorado, United States. One person was 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

13 October 2018 at 23:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Monte Vista, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Monte Vista Muni (MVI)

Coordinates

37.5314, -106.0442

Aircraft

Skystar KITFOX SER 5 SAFARI

Registration

N14GX

Category

Airplane

Year built

1998

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Monte Vista → Monte Vista

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA19CA023

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's improper landing flare in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a hard, bounced landing and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

A pilot-rated witness at the airport reported that, during the airplane’s approach, it appeared to be low and fast. The airplane landed hard, bounced about 4 to 5 ft, and then touched back down on the runway. The witness added that it appeared that the pilot tried to increase power to recover, but while the airplane was about 2 ft off the ground, it turned left. The wings then leveled shortly before the airplane aerodynamically stalled and then nosed over into brush.  The pilot reported that, while "taxiing," he "over sped" the airplane, and the left main landing gear impacted a berm. Subsequently, the airplane veered left and bounced, the right wing impacted the ground, and the airplane then ground looped and came to rest nose down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and windscreen. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. An automated weather observation station about 10 miles from the accident site reported that, about 5 minutes before the accident, the wind was from 250° at 14 knots, gusting to 25 knots. The pilot landed the airplane on runway 16.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.