Kitfox IV N440RS
4 May 2023 · Gretna, Nebraska, United States · No injuries
Summary
On 4 May 2023 at about 00:00 local time, a Kitfox IV registered N440RS was involved in an accident near Gretna, Nebraska, 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.
The record
- Date
- at 00:00
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Gretna, Nebraska, United States
- Coordinates
- 41.0967, -96.2837
- Aircraft
- Kitfox IV
- Registration
- N440RS
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1993
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Gretna → Wahoo
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CEN23LA171
People
Nobody was injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from terrain during a turn immediately after takeoff.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot reported that, while taking off from an off-airport site, he turned too early before gaining enough altitude, and the right wing contacted the ground. The pilot lowered the left wing and the airplane’s left tire “contacted the ground sideways.” The wheel sheared off and the left wing contacted the ground which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other Kitfox IV accidents
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Oct 2021 | Kitfox IV | North Canaan, Connecticut, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |
| 24 Sep 2021 | Kitfox IV | Ozark, Arkansas, United States | Gregory A. Jacobi | No injuries | - |
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Mar 2023 | Piper PA-46-600TP | Thedford, Nebraska, United States | Midwest Partitions Flight Services LLC | No injuries | - |
| 15 May 2023 | Cessna 172 | Chambers, Nebraska, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 12 Jan 2023 | Cessna 150H | Auburn, Nebraska, United States | - | Fatal | 2 |
| 8 Aug 2023 | Piper PA25 | Hartington, Nebraska, United States | Becker Flying Service Inc | No injuries | - |
| 20 Jan 2023 | American Champion 8KCAB | Hyannis, Nebraska, United States | Flying W Ranch | No injuries | - |
| 12 Jul 2023 | Cirrus SR22 | Boelus, Nebraska, United States | - | Serious injuries | - |