Amateur-built KITFOX accident near Hackney, Kansas, July 12, 2024
On July 12, 2024 at about 7:21 pm local time, a 2004 amateur-built KITFOX, registered N1078P, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Hackney, Kansas (Strother Field 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’s failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll in a gusting wind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 12, 2024 · about 7:21 pm local time
- Place
- Hackney, Kansas · Strother Field 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 SERIES 7, built 2004
- Registration
- N1078P · no longer on the register · serial S60111-068
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the landing roll in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, a gust of wind picked up the right wing. He attempted to correct with full right aileron, rudder, and full power to initiate a go-around. The pilot stated that he aborted the go-around, and the airplane ground looped and exited the left side of the runway. During the ground loop, the left wing struck the ground which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing, its lift strut, and the fuselage. At the time of the accident, the pilot was landing the airplane on runway 17 with wind from 180° at 16 knots, gusting to 25 knots. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operations.
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 (landing roll) defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during takeoff (rejected takeoff)
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
- Other weather encounter during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Crosswind correction › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 658.5 hours in all; 165 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 1.4 in the last 30 days; 600 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: November 3, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 533 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, January 22, 2024; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,550 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 914 (piston); 533 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1K1 Benton KS at 7:00 am
- Destination: WLD Hackney KS
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 5,506 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 16 knots, gusting 25
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.98 inHg
- Observation at 2:54 pm from KWLD
Weather report (METAR): KWLD 121954Z AUTO 18016G25KT 10SM CLR 38/21 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP135 T03780211
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
![[CEN24LA262] Photograph 1 – Accident Airplane, from the NTSB investigation of Amateur-built KITFOX accident near Hackney, Kansas, July 12, 2024](/accidents/CEN24LA262/photos/17423002-2t.jpg?v=1400x1050)
![[CEN24LA262] Photograph 2 – Lower Fuselage Damage, from the NTSB investigation of Amateur-built KITFOX accident near Hackney, Kansas, July 12, 2024](/accidents/CEN24LA262/photos/17423002-3t.jpg?v=1401x1053)
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on August 30, 2024. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 3 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N1078P the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.