Morse Frank L KITFOX N39FM

Summary

On 16 August 2009 at about 22:15 local time, a Morse Frank L KITFOX registered N39FM was involved in an accident near Crawford, Colorado, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 August 2009 at 22:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Crawford, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Crawford (99V)

Coordinates

38.7011, -107.6239

Aircraft

Morse Frank L KITFOX

Registration

N39FM

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Crawford → Crawford

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN09CA528

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's continued flight into a severe downdraft at low altitude after encountering tailwind over the area.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was conducting aerial observation of his pipeline head gate to check for debris. He overflew the area at 150 feet above ground level (agl) and "observed a light tailwind and no downdraft." He performed a left 360 degree turn and flew over the area a second time between 50 and 60 feet agl. The airplane encountered a "severe downdraft" and settled into terrain. The right wing spar was broken in the impact, as was the right main landing gear and nosewheel. The propeller was destroyed. The pilot reported no mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.