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March 1, 1999 · Calkins Kitfox 5 · N394GL

Waunakee, WI

Overview

Report Status
Factual report
Event Type
Accident
Date
March 1, 1999
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (2 uninjured)
Location
Waunakee, WI
Aircraft
Calkins Kitfox 5
Tail Number
N394GL
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Destroyed
NTSB Number
CHI99LA099

As the airplane was turning base to final the pilot, 'felt a bump and vibration in the control stick...' when he commanded a final nose-up trim adjustment. The pilot reported that the remainder of the approach to the runway was uneventful. The pilot stated that, 'When I went to flare for the landing I did not have any pitch control.' The pilot reported that the airplane landed very hard and bounced back into the air in a nose high orientation. The pilot reported that during the hard landing the seat broke from its mounts and fell onto the flaperon control tube, inhibiting flaperon actuation. The pilot stated that the airplane then 'Stalled', landed tail first on the runway, ground looped, and came to rest with the right wingtip and the tail touching the ground. Post accident examination of the aircraft showed that the trim actuator was fractured at its attachment point to the airframe.

Full Narrative

On March 1, 1999, at 1710 central standard time (CST), a Calkins Kitfox 5, N394GL, piloted by a commercial pilot, was destroyed during a hard landing and subsequent ground loop at the Waunakee Airport, near Waunakee, Wisconsin. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was operating under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot-in-command and pilot-rated passenger reported no injuries. The flight departed Waunakee Airport at 1630 CST for a local flight. According to the pilot-in-command's written statement, as the airplane was turning base to final the pilot, "felt a bump and vibration in the control stick..." when he commanded a final nose-up trim adjustment. The pilot reported that the remainder of the approach to the runway was uneventful. The pilot stated that, "When I went to flare for the landing I did not have any pitch control." The pilot reported that the airplane landed very hard and bounced back into the air in a nose high orientation. The pilot reported that during the hard landing the seat broke from its mounts and fell onto the flaperon control tube, inhibiting flaperon actuation. The pilot stated that the airplane then "Stalled", landed tail first on the runway, ground looped, and came to rest with the right wingtip and the tail touching the ground. Post accident inspection of the aircraft showed that the trim actuator was fractured at its attachment point to the airframe.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:10 CST
Nearest AirportWaunakee Airport (0nm)
Runway27
Runway Length2230 ft
Runway Width30 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCalkins Kitfox 5
Tail NumberN394GL
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageDestroyed
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsSubaru · EA81 SHO · Reciprocating · 118
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (2 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured2
Total2
Crew 1Age 53 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind220° @ 4 kt
CeilingBroken clouds 8000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point41 C / 23 C
Altimeter29.00 inHg
Observation Time22:53
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data