12 Dec 2015: KELM DAVID KITFOX 7 NO SERIES — DEFORD, DAVID L.

12 Dec 2015: KELM DAVID KITFOX 7 NO SERIES — DEFORD, DAVID L.

No fatalities • Tracy, CA, United States

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the landing, which resulted in a hard landing, runway excursion and impact with terrain.

— NTSB Determination

Accident narrative

The pilot reported that while conducting a touch-and-go landing in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, he "flared too high, touching down fairly hard." He reported that he attempted to abort the landing, the airplane departed the runway to the left, and the nose of the airplane impacted the ground coming to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, fuselage, and empennage.

The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Contributing factors

  • cause Pilot
  • cause Pitch control — Not attained/maintained

Conditions

Weather
VMC, wind 310/03kt, vis 10sm

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