Loss of Control in Flight · NTSB ANC18FA041
MASON HAL J KITFOX MODEL 1 — Salem, OR
| Date | June 4, 2018 |
| Location | Salem, OR |
| Aircraft | MASON HAL J KITFOX MODEL 1 (amateur-built) |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Uncontrolled descent Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) |
| Pilot age | 40 |
| Pilot total time | 32 hrs · Student / very low time |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Experience/qualifications-Qualification/certification-Student/instructed pilot - C
- Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Training-Total instruct/training recvd-Student/instructed pilot - C
- Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Student/instructed pilot - C
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Student/instructed pilot - C
What happened
The student pilot had just completed maintenance on his newly purchased experimental, amateur-built light sport airplane and told a witness that he was going to conduct taxi tests. A few hours after observing the airplane taxi along the runway multiple times, he noticed that the student's vehicle and trailer were still parked at the airport but that the airplane was not there. The airplane wreckage was subsequently located near the edge of a wooded area about 100 yards from the runway.
The student's flight instructor estimated that the he had accumulated about 35 total hours of flight experience, almost all of which was in another make and model airplane. He stated that he did not think the student had not previously flown the accident airplane make and model.
The fuselage exhibited accordion-style crushing damage, consistent with a near-vertical impact indicative of a loss of airplane control. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
Although toxicological testing detected one potentially sedating antihistamine in the student's urine, it was not detected in blood. Therefore, the use of the medication likely did not contribute to the accident.
Based on the available evidence, it is likely that the student decided to take off in the airplane and, shortly after takeoff, lost airplane control. The student had not been endorsed by an instructor to fly the accident airplane solo and likely didn't not have the experience to maintain control after takeoff.