Denney KITFOX
Wauchula, FL — January 18, 2020
Event Information
| Date | January 18, 2020 |
| Event Type | ACC |
| NTSB Number | ERA20CA083 |
| Event ID | 20200119X92652 |
| Location | Wauchula, FL |
| Country | USA |
| Coordinates | 27.51500, -81.88055 |
| Airport | Wauchula Muni |
| Highest Injury | MINR |
Aircraft
| Make | Denney |
| Model | KITFOX |
| Category | AIR |
| FAR Part | 091 |
| Aircraft Damage | SUBS |
Conditions
| Light Condition | DAYL |
| Weather | VMC |
Injuries
| Fatal | 0 |
| Serious | 0 |
| Minor | 1 |
| None | 0 |
| Total Injured | 1 |
Event Location
Probable Cause
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.
Full Narrative
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.
About This NTSB Record
This aviation event was investigated by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). NTSB investigates all U.S. civil aviation accidents to determine probable cause and issue safety recommendations to prevent future accidents.