Mechanical & Engine Failure · NTSB CEN18LA150
WOLFE Kitfox V — Kalkaska, MI
| Date | April 27, 2018 |
| Location | Kalkaska, MI |
| Aircraft | WOLFE Kitfox V (amateur-built) |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Enroute Loss of engine power (total) |
| Pilot age | 71 |
| Pilot total time | 659 hrs · Building experience |
| Time in type | Unknown |
| Fatalities | 2 |
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control that resulted in a stall/spin following climb from the departure airport.
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-(general)-Not attained/maintained - C
- Aircraft-Aircraft power plant-Engine (reciprocating)-(general)-Not specified
What happened
The personal flight in an experimental amateur-built airplane was underway when witnesses observed the airplane in a spin and without engine power. The airplane impacted the ground about 4 miles south of the departure airport. The airplane wreckage exhibited features consistent with a counterclockwise spin. Although witnesses reported they did not hear engine noise, postaccident examination of the airplane confirmed flight control continuity and found no mechanical anomalies with the engine that would have precluded normal operation.