Pilot Debrief

Paul D Cannon Kitfox Light Squared near Lincoln, CA — 2026-03-27

Final reportWPR26LA143
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Date
2026-03-27
Location
Lincoln, CA, USA
Airport
LHM
Aircraft
Paul D Cannon Kitfox Light Squared
Registration
N11446
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to properly flare the airplane during landing, which resulted in a hard landing and separation of the main landing gear. Contributing to the accident was the improper installation and over torquing of the landing gear attachment hardware, which reduced the load-carrying capacity of the landing gear clamping brackets.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the improper installation and over torquing of the landing gear attachment hardware, which reduced the load-carrying capacity of the landing gear clamping brackets.

NTSB narrative

The pilot/owner of the amateur-built airplane reported that, while performing touch-and-go landings, he failed to properly flare the airplane resulting in a hard landing. The landing loads exceeded the strength of the main landing gear attachment, which resulted in a separation of the main landing gear. The airplane subsequently departed the left side of the runway and struck the visual approach slope indicator lights, resulting in substantial damage to the right wing strut. The pilot/owner’s postaccident examination revealed that the aftermarket landing gear installation had been improperly installed. The attachment bolts had been overtorqued which preloaded and overstressed the hardware, reducing the load-carrying capability. The stripped attachment bolts allowed the clamping brackets to separate under load. The hard landing exceeded the reduced capacity of the landing gear attachment, resulting in a separation of the landing gear and a subsequent runway excursion.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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

Docket documents3

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