Wolfe Kitfox V accident near Kalkaska, MI
On April 27, 2018, a Wolfe Kitfox V (airplane) was involved in an accident near Kalkaska, MI. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- April 27, 2018
- Place
- Kalkaska, MI
- Aircraft
- Wolfe Kitfox V · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 44.674°N, 85.236°W
- NTSB ID
- 20180427X53009
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn April 27, 2018, at 1416 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Wolfe Kitfox V, N818TW, impacted terrain about 4 miles south of Kalkaska City Airport, Kalkaska, Michigan. The airplane was destroyed by impact forces. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was destined for Mackinac Island Airport, Mackinac Island, Michigan. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, witnesses reported seeing the airplane in a counterclockwise upright spin beginning about 1,000 ft above ground level. The airplane then impacted the ground in a flat attitude. Ground scarring indicated counterclockwise rotation of the airplane. According to the Kalkaska Sheriff's Office Incident Report, fuel was leaking from both airplane wings. The report included accounts from witnesses who stated that the airplane "was not under power" and was "spinning belly down." PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe private pilot held a private pilot certificate as well as repairman experimental aircraft builder and repairman light sport aircraft (inspection) certificates. The pilot held a third-class medical certificate dated August 24, 2016, with the restriction that the pilot must wear corrective lenses. At that time, he reported 659 hours of total flight experience, of which 23 hours were in the previous 6 months. A pilot log
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control that resulted in a stall/spin following climb from the departure airport.
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Browse: Michigan
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
