Pilot Debrief

HARMS ROBERT M KIT FOX SE near La Porte, TX — 2008-06-02

Final reportDEN08LA098
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Date
2008-06-02
Location
La Porte, TX, USA
Airport
T41
Aircraft
HARMS ROBERT M KIT FOX SE
Registration
N40120
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
2
Phase of flight
Climb

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and uncontrolled descent.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was flying the experimental homebuilt airplane with a potential buyer for the airplane who was a pilot-rated passenger. The pilot had flown the airplane 45 minutes the morning of the accident, but had not flown the airplane for the year preceding the accident. The pilot-rated passenger had no experience in the airplane. After 10 to 15 minutes of flight, witnesses observed the airplane making a climbing left turn about 1,000 feet in the air when the airplane suddenly nosed over near vertical, consistent with an aerodynamic stall. The airplane impacted an open field at a near 45-degree angle and burned in a postimpact fire. Examination of the aircraft did not reveal any preimpact anomalies.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have aborted the climb during the left turn before losing control.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 16 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents16

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