Ferkin KITFOX IV N90TY

Summary

On 4 January 2011 at about 23:45 local time, a Ferkin KITFOX IV registered N90TY, operated by Ty Ferkin, was involved in an accident near Homedale, Idaho, 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

4 January 2011 at 23:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Homedale, Idaho, United States

Coordinates

43.6088, -116.9361

Aircraft

Ferkin KITFOX IV

Registration

N90TY

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Ty Ferkin

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Homedale → Owyhee

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR11CA088

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's inadequate compensation for the snow-covered terrain during the takeoff ground roll, which resulted in a nose-over.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Approximately 15 minutes into the flight, the oil pressure gauge indicated no oil pressure. The pilot performed a precautionary landing on a snow-covered hill. He examined the airplane and discovered that the sending wire had disconnected from the oil pressure gauge. He plugged it in and the oil pressure gauge functioned properly. He estimated that the snow cover was 4 inches deep. During the takeoff roll, he raised the tailwheel and the airplane nosed over. The pilot stated that he should have used soft-field takeoff techniques due to the snow-covered terrain.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.