Lafayette Regional Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lafayette, Louisiana 70508
Saturday, September 24, 2011 8:52 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot initiated a 270-degree turn back to the runway after a partial loss of engine power during takeoff. As he was turning back, the engine continued to lose power and the pilot made a forced landing to a grass field. The pilot said that he was in control of the airplane until it was 15 to 20 feet above the ground when it lost lift, landed hard, and flipped over. A postaccident test run of the engine revealed no mechanical anomalies.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot’s loss of control during a forced landing after a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons during takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/24/2011
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 852
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Lafayette
Event State LOUISIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 70508
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 301211N
Event Location Longitude 0915909W
Event Location Airport Lafayette Regional
Event Location Nearest Airport ID LFT
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 42
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 853 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID LFT
Elevation of weather observation facility 42
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
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 --
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) --
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator --
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.91
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Serious
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 1
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 29691
NTSB Notification Source SWR ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Mar 8 2012 5:36PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N211KF
NTSB Number CEN11LA415
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 BINS TOM
Aircraft Model KITFOX IV
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1496
Certified Max Gross Weight 900
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats 2
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats 4
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 643
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name JOHNSON DONALD G
Aircraft Owner Street Address 203 KINGS RD
Aircraft Owner City LAFAYETTE
Aircraft Owner State LA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 70503-3619
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name JOHNSON DONALD G
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 203 KINGS RD
Operator City LAFAYETTE
Operator State LA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 70503-3619
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code LFT
Departure City Lafayette
Departure State LA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 940
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code LFT
Destination City Lafayette
Destination State LA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Feb 22 2012 9:57AM
User who most recently changed record yeal
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location 22L
Runway Length 7651
Runway Width 150
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --