Engine Was Working Fine During The Entire Flight And There Was Nothing Mechanically Wrong With The Engine

Location: Crowell, TX Accident Number: CEN22LA163
Date & Time: March 31, 2022, 09:38 Local Registration: N789RB
Aircraft: Kitfox 7 Injuries: 2 Fatal
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

On March 31, 2022, about 0938 central daylight time, a Kitfox Series 7 airplane, N789RB, was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Crowell, Texas. The private pilot and passenger sustained fatal injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

The brother of the pilot and the father of the passenger, who is also a pilot, observed the accident flight. He reported that the airplane departed from a dirt strip at the pilot’s residence in Crowell around 0900. The pilot was in the left seat and the passenger was in the right seat of the airplane.

The airplane took off from the dirt strip and flew over Crowell. The airplane then came back to the dirt strip, to do a low pass. The airplane flew slow over the dirt strip to the northwest. The airplane then climbed out to the left, it was about 650 ft off the ground, when the airplane “stalled,” the left wing dropped, and the nose went straight down. The airplane impacted rolling prairie and a postimpact fire destroyed the airplane.

The witness reported that the pilot was flying “low and slow,” the airplane “stalled,” the pilot lost control while in flight, and there was no altitude for recovery. He additionally reported that the engine was working fine during the entire flight and there was nothing mechanically wrong with the engine.

At the time of the accident, the witness reported the temperature was about 70°F, the wind was coming from the northwest, the wind speed was about 8-9 mph with no gusts, and the visibility was clear.

The Federal Aviation Administration responded to the accident site to document and examine the wreckage.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov