Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's failure to compensate for crosswinds resulting in a loss of directional control while landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience and training in tailwheeled airplanes.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
On July 8, 2008, approximately 1015 eastern daylight time, an experimental Kitfox 2 Airplane, N767JD, veered off the right side of runway 29 and struck a taxiway sign at the Hartford-Brainard Airport, Hartford Connecticut, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The Airline Transport Certificated pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and the flight was being operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The local flight was for the purpose of practicing takeoffs and landings in the tailwheel airplane.
On the fourth touch and go, the pilot decided to land on a different runway with a mild crosswind and veered off the right side of the runway and hit a taxiway sign. The pilot tried to correct for the veer by using full left command to the rudder. When he wasn't successful, he then attempted a go around with full power. However he went into the grass, which bogged down the acceleration of the airplane before he could get airborne, and the airplane struck a taxiway sign.
The pilot's statement says that his inexperience in tailwheel aircraft was likely the root cause and additional training in tailwheel aircraft was called for.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CHI08LA185