Skagit Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Burlington, Washington 98221
Tuesady, May 12, 1992 14:35 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT OF THE KITFOX II EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT TOOK OFF IN WINDS OF 15 KNOTS, WITH HIGHER GUSTS. AFTER TAKEOFF THE PILOT FOUND THAT FULL DEFLECTION OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS DID NOT PROVIDE ENOUGH RESPONSE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. THE STRONG/GUSTY WINDS FORCED THE AIRCRAFT OFF THE PLANNED DEPARTURE COURSE, WHERE IT CONTACTED A FENCE, AND THEN IMPACTED THE TERRAIN.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

THE PILOT'S OVERCONFIDENCE IN HIS ABILITY, AND HIS OVERCONFIDENCE IN THE ABILITY OF THE AIRCRAFT. FACTORS INCLUDE HIGH/GUSTY WINDS, AND A FENCE NEAR THE RUNWAY.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/12/1992
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1435
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City BURLINGTON
Event State WASHINGTON
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 98221
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SKAGIT REGIONAL
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 75S
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 140
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 18
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 280
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 25
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 303
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time 0
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 46476
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 2:56PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7183H
NTSB Number SEA92LA096
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name ROBERT GRIFFITHS
Aircraft Model KITFOX MOD II
Aircraft Series Identifier KITFOX MOD
Aircraft Serial Number 531
Certified Max Gross Weight 950
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Continuous Airworthiness
Date of Last Inspection Jan 2 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 6
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name GRIFFITHS, ROBERT F.
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4713 BRICE DR.
Aircraft Owner City ANACORTES
Aircraft Owner State WA
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 98221
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name GRIFFITHS, ROBERT F.
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 4713 BRICE DR.
Operator City ANACORTES
Operator State WA
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 98221
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1435
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 74S
Destination City ANACORTES
Destination State WA
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 28
Runway Length 5475
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --