Anoka County-Janes Field Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Blaine, Minnesota 55449
Tuesady, April 16, 2013 13:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

On the pilot's first landing in the accident airplane, the airplane’s tailwheel touched down first, and then the airplane bounced on the main landing gear and rotated to the right. The pilot applied left rudder and added power in an attempt to go-around; however, the airplane’s right main gear and wing tip struck the ground, and the airplane nosed down, shearing off the propeller before coming to rest on the nose. The pilot said there was nothing mechanically wrong with the airplane. He reported only 3.4 hours of previous experience in tailwheel-equipped airplanes. Postaccident examination revealed substantial damage to the right wing spar.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's improper touchdown and subsequent failure to maintain control of the airplane during the landing roll. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of experience in tailwheel-equipped airplanes.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/16/2013
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1330
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Blaine
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 55449
Event Date Year 2013
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 450841N
Event Location Longitude 0931236W
Event Location Airport Anoka County-Janes Field
Event Location Nearest Airport ID KANE
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 912
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1255 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID KANE
Elevation of weather observation facility 912
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
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) --
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 260
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report KANE 1855Z 2606KT 10SM CLR KANE 1845Z 3006KT 10SM
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) 31440
NTSB Notification Source FAA AGL ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record May 30 2013 4:10PM
User who most recently changed record bowl
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N389HW
NTSB Number CEN13CA230
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 WING HAROLD
Aircraft Model KITFOX II
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 389
Certified Max Gross Weight 950
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats 2
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 Dec 1 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 1
Airframe Hours 220
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Dennis E. Fitch
Aircraft Owner Street Address 9727 Julep Trail North
Aircraft Owner City Scandia
Aircraft Owner State MN
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55073
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name Dennis E. Fitch
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 9727 Julep Trail North
Operator City Scandia
Operator State MN
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 55073
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 No
Departure Airport Code KANE
Departure City Blaine
Departure State MN
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1320
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code KANE
Destination City Blaine
Destination State MN
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 29 2013 3:25PM
User who most recently changed record scoa
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --