R.O. And D.O Hewitt KITFOX IV-1200 accident near Kannapolis, NC
On May 4, 1999, a R.O. And D.O Hewitt KITFOX IV-1200 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Kannapolis, NC. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 4, 1999
- Place
- Kannapolis, NC
- Aircraft
- R.O. And D.O Hewitt KITFOX IV-1200 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 35.501°N, 80.670°W
- NTSB ID
- 20001212X18839
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On May 4, 1999, about 1839 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt amphibious Kitfox IV-1200, N314PG, registered to a private individual, experienced an in-flight loss of control and collided with terrain during an uncontrolled descent near Lake Kannapolis, Kannapolis, North Carolina. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was destroyed and the pilot and one passenger were fatally injured. The flight was originating at the time of the accident. According to a transcript of communications with Savannah, Georgia, Air Traffic Control Tower, the flight departed there earlier in the day at approximately 1443, and radar service was terminated when the flight was 15 nautical miles southeast of the departure airport. There were no other known communications with FAA air traffic control facilities after radar service was terminated. According to a witness who is an airplane mechanic and an airline transport-pilot rated pilot, he observed the airplane land on Lake Kannapolis and reported that the airplane remained on the water for about 30 minutes. He reported seeing the airplane taxi to the far south end of the lake and takeoff to the north. After takeoff, he observed the airplane flying 5 feet above the water in a "slow cruise." He noted that the pilot was wagging the wings of the airplane and as the airplane approached a bridge that crosses the lake, he heard what he reported to be full throttle applied. The airplane entered a "steep" angle of ascent of approximately 65-7
Probable cause
The failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain airspeed and the inadvertent stall resulting in the uncontrolled descent with terrain. A factor in the accident was the impairment of the pilot by drugs (tetrahydrocannabinol).
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Browse: North Carolina
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
