Pilot Debrief

WILEY Kitfox IV near Sprague, WA — 2014-07-03

Final reportWPR14CA279
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Date
2014-07-03
Location
Sprague, WA, USA
Aircraft
WILEY Kitfox IV
Registration
N5KW
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance from powerlines during the landing approach resulting in a collision.

NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that the purpose of the flight was to practice taxiing in his recently purchased airplane. While taxiing, the airplane unintentionally became airborne and the pilot decided that in an effort to not collide with an electric fence ahead, he would need to add full power and fly the airplane in a traffic pattern to come back and land. Despite being aware of a powerline in the area, the pilot collided with it during his third landing attempt. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have chosen to land at the initial grass strip instead of attempting multiple approaches.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • 1 docket document
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents1

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