Gottelt Herbert R KITFOX IV/ N94HG
17 October 2009 · Crystal Falls, Michigan, United States · Serious injuries
Summary
On 17 October 2009 at about 20:30 local time, a Gottelt Herbert R KITFOX IV/ registered N94HG was involved in an accident near Crystal Falls, Michigan, United States. 2 people were on board and one was seriously injured, one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 20:30
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Crystal Falls, Michigan, United States
- Nearest airport
- Iron County (50D)
- Coordinates
- 46.0092, -88.2739
- Aircraft
- Gottelt Herbert R KITFOX IV/
- Registration
- N94HG
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Not recorded
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Crystal Falls → Crystal Falls
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- CEN10CA022
People
1 person was seriously injured.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Probable cause
The pilot's inability to maintain control due to an undetermined problem affecting lateral control of the airplane.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
The pilot stated that immediately after liftoff he was unable to move the control stick to the left of the center (neutral) position, although he was able to move the control stick to the right, forward, and aft without restriction. The pilot returned for landing; however, “at about 30 [feet] altitude the aircraft began to stall.” The airplane subsequently landed hard, separating the main landing gear. Both wings and the fuselage structure were substantially damaged during the event. The pilot stated that the accident occurred during the third flight of the day. A postaccident inspection was unable to confirm a restriction at the control stick. Continuity between the cockpit controls and the flight control surfaces was confirmed.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Dec 2009 | Unknown aircraft | Detroit, Michigan, United States | Pinnacle Airlines Inc | No injuries | - |
| 27 Aug 2009 | Dekkinga VANS RV-7A | Jenison, Michigan, United States | Jack A. Dekkinga | Minor injuries | - |
| 14 Jun 2009 | Burkhart Grob G103C TWIN III ACRO | Gregory, Michigan, United States | Sandhill Soaring Club | Fatal | 1 |
| 15 Aug 2009 | Piper PA-15 | Plainwell, Michigan, United States | - | No injuries | - |
| 26 Aug 2009 | Piper PA-15 | Lakeview, Michigan, United States | - | Fatal | 1 |
| 26 Apr 2009 | Let L-23 SUPER BLANIK | Adrian, Michigan, United States | Adrian Soaring Club, Inc. | No injuries | - |