N5KW

Substantial
Serious

WILEY Kitfox IVS/N: 1658

Accident Details

Date
Thursday, July 3, 2014
NTSB Number
WPR14CA279
Location
Sprague, WA
Event ID
20140703X44945
Coordinates
47.304443, -117.961669
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
Highest Injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Serious Injuries
1
Minor Injuries
0
Uninjured
0
Total Aboard
1

Probable Cause and Findings

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from powerlines during the landing approach resulting in a collision.

Aircraft Information

Registration
Make
WILEY
Serial Number
1658
Engine Type
Reciprocating
Year Built
1994
Model / ICAO
Kitfox IVSBM3
Aircraft Type
Fixed Wing Single Engine
No. of Engines
1
Seats
2
FAA Model
KITFOX IV

Registered Owner (Current)

Name
BOURNE JOEL TERRY
Address
6044 BOURNE RD N
City
SPRAGUE
State / Zip Code
WA 99032-9653
Country
United States

Analysis

The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to practice taxiing in his recently purchased airplane. While taxiing, the airplane unintentionally became airborne which the pilot accredited to a combination of a weather inversion, vortex generators, and a three-blade propeller which produced enough lift at a slow groundspeed. The pilot decided that in an effort to not collide with an electric fence ahead, he would need to add full power and fly the airplane in a traffic pattern to come back and land. The pilot maneuvered to land on his grass strip and aborted the landing after assessing that the terrain would not be suitable. He maneuvered to an area about 0.5 miles away knowing that the terrain would be flat and adequate length. He was familiar with the area and knew that powerlines ran perpendicular to his flight path. During the approach, he again elected to go-around and configured the airplane for his third attempt to land. While on the final approach, the pilot reduced the power and the airplane rapidly lost altitude, resulting in a collision with the powerlines and collision with the ground.

The pilot reported no pre impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Data Source

Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# WPR14CA279