Kimball Enterprises Inc Pitts Model-12 accident near Weirdales, Florida, December 13, 2008
On December 13, 2008 at about 4:30 pm local time, a Kimball Enterprises Inc Pitts Model-12, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N212DK, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Weirdales, Florida (Hobby Hill Stolport 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 inadequate compensation for the wind conditions. Contributing to the accident was the crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 13, 2008 · about 4:30 pm local time
- Place
- Weirdales, Florida · Hobby Hill Stolport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Kimball Enterprises Inc Pitts Model-12, amateur-built
- Registration
- N212DK · no longer on the register · serial 1002
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the homebuilt airplane stated that he overflew the airport from the east and observed that the windsock was indicating a 90-degree crosswind of 15-20 knots for the airport's runway, designated 36/18. The pilot elected to land on runway 36 and entered the downwind leg of the traffic pattern. The pilot reported inputting a "significant" amount of slip to maintain centerline during final approach and flare. The airplane touched down on the right main landing gear first and then bounced off the grass strip. During the bounce, the crosswind forced the airplane toward the left, off the runway, and into a fence where the left wingtip struck a fence post. The airplane yawed, the wing hit the ground, and the airplane cart-wheeled, coming to rest inverted.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
- Runway excursion during landing (landing roll)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,303 hours in all; 35 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 2,201 as pilot in command; 1,007 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 265 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, September 2, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 2,250 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Vedenyev M14-P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: VDF Tampa FL at 3:45 pm
- Destination: 2FD1 Weirdales FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 1,600 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: vv; clear
- Temperature: 55°F (13°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 4:25 pm from VVG, 4 miles away
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.