Wiley KITFOX IV N5KW

Summary

On 3 July 2014 at about 03:30 local time, a Wiley KITFOX IV registered N5KW, operated by Walker Mark L, was involved in an accident near Sprague, Washington, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 July 2014 at 03:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Sprague, Washington, United States

Coordinates

47.3044, -117.9617

Aircraft

Wiley KITFOX IV

Registration

N5KW

Category

Airplane

Year built

1994

Engines

1

Operator

Walker Mark L

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Sprague → Sprague

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Dusk

NTSB number

WPR14CA279

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from powerlines during the landing approach resulting in a collision.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to practice taxiing in his recently purchased airplane. While taxiing, the airplane unintentionally became airborne and the pilot decided that in an effort to not collide with an electric fence ahead, he would need to add full power and fly the airplane in a traffic pattern to come back and land. Despite being aware of a powerline in the area, the pilot collided with it during his third landing attempt. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.