Amateur-built KITFOX CLASSIC 4 accident near Grinnell, Iowa, July 27, 2013
On July 27, 2013 at about 12:15 pm local time, a amateur-built KITFOX CLASSIC 4, registered N84SD, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Grinnell, Iowa (Grinnell Regional Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot did not maintain control of the airplane while landing with a crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 27, 2013 · about 12:15 pm local time
- Place
- Grinnell, Iowa · Grinnell Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KITFOX CLASSIC 4
- Registration
- N84SD · registry record · serial 001
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the landing on runway 31, the flight encountered a crosswind from the right. Subsequently the airplane ground looped and nosed over. The fuselage and firewall were wrinkled. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures prior to the accident.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 625 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 625 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 9, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 56 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 12, 2012
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotec 2800 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KGGI Grinnell IA at 11:15 am
- Destination: KGGI Grinnell IA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 31, 5,200 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 330° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 54°F (12°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.06 inHg
- Observation at 12:15 pm from KGGI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.