Summary
On January 18, 2020, a Denney KITFOX (N4283V) was involved in an accident near Wauchula, FL. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The pilot's improper landing flare in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a bounced landing, and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a runway excursion and nose-over.
The pilot reported that he was conducting a crosswind landing on runway 36, in the tailwheel-equipped experimental, amateur-built airplane. The airplane touched down, bounced slightly, settled, and then veered off the right side of the runway. It struck a light, then flipped over in the grass and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder and the fuselage forward of the horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The nearest weather reporting station, located 29 miles east of the airport, reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 110° at 14 knots.
This accident is documented in NTSB report ERA20CA083. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N4283V.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
The pilot's improper landing flare in gusting crosswind conditions, which resulted in a bounced landing, and his subsequent failure to maintain directional control, which resulted in a runway excursion and nose-over.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Current)
Analysis
The pilot reported that he was conducting a crosswind landing on runway 36, in the tailwheel-equipped experimental, amateur-built airplane. The airplane touched down, bounced slightly, settled, and then veered off the right side of the runway. It struck a light, then flipped over in the grass and came to rest inverted. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the rudder and the fuselage forward of the horizontal stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The nearest weather reporting station, located 29 miles east of the airport, reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 110° at 14 knots. The pilot reported that the wind was from 270° at 8 knots gusting to 14 knots.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# ERA20CA083