N389HW

On April 16, 2013, a Wing Harold KITFOX II (N389HW) was involved in an incident near Blaine, MN. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's improper touchdown and subsequent failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of experience in tailwheel-equipped airplanes.

On the pilot's first landing, the tail wheel touched down first and the airplane bounced on the main gear, then rotated to the right. The pilot applied left rudder and added power in an attempt to go-around. The right main gear and right wing tip struck the ground, and the airplane nosed down, shearing off the propeller before coming to rest on the nose. The pilot said there was nothing mechanically wrong with the airplane. Postaccident examination revealed the right wing spar, outboard of the lift strut, and the ribs were broken.

This incident is documented in NTSB report CEN13CA230. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N389HW.