Amateur-built KITFOX 6 accident near Columbus, North Carolina, November 13, 2014
On November 13, 2014 at about 3:30 pm local time, a 2006 amateur-built KITFOX 6, registered N524MB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Columbus, North Carolina (Wheat 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
A loss of directional control during landing for reasons that could not be determined based on the available information.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 13, 2014 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Columbus, North Carolina · Wheat 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 6, built 2006
- Registration
- N524MB · registry record · serial S60005-008
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot initially reported that, while landing his tailwheel-equipped, experimental, amateur-built airplane on the private 1,500-ft-long turf runway, he experienced a loss of directional control without any mechanical malfunctions. The airplane ground looped and came to rest inverted, which resulted in substantial damage to the left wing. The pilot later stated that the left main wheel axle had separated from the landing gear leg, which precipitated the loss of control. The airplane was not examined after the accident, and review of maintenance logbooks did not reveal any entries pertaining to work performed on the landing gear in the previous year. Because no further examination of the airplane was performed, the reason for the loss of directional control during landing could not be determined based on the available information.
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
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 254 hours in all; 39 in this make and model; 8 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 22, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 235 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 19, 2014; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,550 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Cont Motor IO-240 SER (piston); 235 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FQD Rutherfordton NC at 3:15 pm
- Destination: 56NC Columbus NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 27, 1,500 ft by 80 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,700 ft
- Temperature: 59°F (15°C), dew point 41°F (5°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 3:55 pm from KFQD, 14 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.