Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the landing, which resulted in a hard landing, runway excursion and impact with terrain.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that while conducting a touch-and-go landing in a tailwheel-equipped airplane, he "flared too high, touching down fairly hard." He reported that he attempted to abort the landing, the airplane departed the runway to the left, and the nose of the airplane impacted the ground coming to a stop. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, fuselage, and empennage.
The pilot reported there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA16CA085 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Dec 12, 2015
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Tracy, California
- Nearest airport
- New Jerusalem (1Q4)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
KITFOX 7
- N-number
- N35KF
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 2007
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.