Dodge Center Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Dodge Center, Minnesota 55927
Thursday, September 17, 2009 19:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot performed several maneuvers in the local area during a "phase 1" flight test. The pilot returned to the departure airport where he completed two normal landings and was to perform a third landing. The pilot stated that during the third landing flare, the airplane sink rate was "too fast" and the nosewheel contacted the runway. The airplane then nosed over. The airplane was configured with full flaps. Damage to the airplane included a buckled fuselage and vertical stabilizer, resulting in substantial damage. The pilot stated that engine power should have been applied to control the sink rate. Examination of the accident site revealed a ground scar in a field about 130 feet from the runway threshold or about 30 feet from the runway edge. The ground scar was consistent with the airplane's initial touchdown point. The pilot said that he would usually use an aim point that was about 100 feet past three yellow cones that delineated each side of the threshold.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper glide path during landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/17/2009
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1900
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Dodge Center
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 55927
Event Date Year 2009
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 440105n
Event Location Longitude 0924953w
Event Location Airport Dodge Center
Event Location Nearest Airport ID TOB
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 1305
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 2300 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID TOB
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 40
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.1
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 26266
NTSB Notification Source Minneapolis FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 3 2009 2:43PM
User who most recently changed record dinc
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N396BK
NTSB Number CEN09CA592
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Bordelon
Aircraft Model Kitfox IV
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number C9400070
Certified Max Gross Weight 1320
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Oct 22 2008 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 16
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name Pilot
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Mantorville
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode --
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Pilot
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Mantorville
Operator State MN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Flight Test
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code TOB
Departure City Dodge Center
Departure State MN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1800
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code TOB
Destination City Dodge Center
Destination State MN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Oct 14 2009 12:20PM
User who most recently changed record galm
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 04
Runway Length 2340
Runway Width 200
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --