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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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NTSB Report

November 9, 1986 · Turnbloom Kitfox · N371DT

Crawfordsville, IN

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
November 9, 1986
Injury Outcomes
No injuries (1 uninjured)
Location
Crawfordsville, IN
Aircraft
Turnbloom Kitfox
Tail Number
N371DT
Injuries
None
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
CHI87DEX01

THE PLT RPRTD THAT WHEN HE WAS PREPARING FOR THE ACFT'S 1ST TEST FLT, HE MADE A HI SPEED RUN WITH THE TAIL RAISED & ACFT CONTROL WAS GOOD. ON THE NEXT RUN, HE PLANNED TO LET THE ACFT LIFT OFF THE RWY, THEN LET IT SETTLE BACK ON THE SURFACE. HE STATED THAT HE APPLIED FULL THROTTLE, & AFTER THE ACFT ROLLED APRX 100', IT 'LIFTED OFF AT A HIGH ANGLE OF CLIMB, FULL FORWARD ELEVATOR & THROTTLE REDUCTION BROUGHT THE AIRCRAFT TO LEVEL FLIGHT, 20-30' ABOVE RUNWAY.' THE ACFT THEN BGN TO ROLL & SUBSEQUENTLY NOSED DOWN & IMPACTED THE GND ABOUT 75' OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. THE PLT WAS WEAR- ING A SHOULDER HARNESS & WAS NOT INJURED, BUT THE ACFT WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED (AFT FUSELAGE/EMPENNAGE BADLY BENT BTN THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT & HORIZONTAL STABILIZER). THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF CONTROL WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE STUDENT PLT HAD NO PREVIOUS FLT TIME IN THIS MAKE & MODEL OF ACFT & WAS NOT ENDORSED FOR THE FLT.

Full Narrative

THE PLT RPRTD THAT WHEN HE WAS PREPARING FOR THE ACFT'S 1ST TEST FLT, HE MADE A HI SPEED RUN WITH THE TAIL RAISED & ACFT CONTROL WAS GOOD. ON THE NEXT RUN, HE PLANNED TO LET THE ACFT LIFT OFF THE RWY, THEN LET IT SETTLE BACK ON THE SURFACE. HE STATED THAT HE APPLIED FULL THROTTLE, & AFTER THE ACFT ROLLED APRX 100', IT 'LIFTED OFF AT A HIGH ANGLE OF CLIMB, FULL FORWARD ELEVATOR & THROTTLE REDUCTION BROUGHT THE AIRCRAFT TO LEVEL FLIGHT, 20-30' ABOVE RUNWAY.' THE ACFT THEN BGN TO ROLL & SUBSEQUENTLY NOSED DOWN & IMPACTED THE GND ABOUT 75' OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RWY. THE PLT WAS WEAR- ING A SHOULDER HARNESS & WAS NOT INJURED, BUT THE ACFT WAS EXTENSIVELY DAMAGED (AFT FUSELAGE/EMPENNAGE BADLY BENT BTN THE BAGGAGE COMPARTMENT & HORIZONTAL STABILIZER). THE REASON FOR THE LOSS OF CONTROL WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE STUDENT PLT HAD NO PREVIOUS FLT TIME IN THIS MAKE & MODEL OF ACFT & WAS NOT ENDORSED FOR THE FLT.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time17:20 EST
Nearest AirportCrawfordsville (0nm N)
Runway22
Runway Length4000 ft
Runway Width75 ft
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftTurnbloom Kitfox
Tail NumberN371DT
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsBombardier · ROTAX 503 · Reciprocating · 52
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury SummaryNo injuries (1 uninjured)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor0
Uninjured1
Total1
Crew 1Age 38 · Third Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point50 / 0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

Appendix: Source Data