Hartford, CT, USA
N767JD
TRAXLER JOHN N KITFOX
The pilot was practicing touch-and-go landings with a passenger in his experimental tailwheel-equipped airplane. On the fourth touch and go, the pilot decided to land on a different runway with a mild crosswind, where he veered off the right side of the runway. He tried to conduct a go-around, but departed the right side of the runway and hit a taxiway sign, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The pilot's written statement suggested that his inexperience in tailwheel aircraft was likely the root cause and that additional training in tailwheel aircraft was appropriate.
On July 8, 2008, approximately 1015 eastern daylight time, an experimental Kitfox 2 Airplane, N767JD, veered off the right side of runway 29 and struck a taxiway sign at the Hartford-Brainard Airport, Hartford Connecticut, resulting in substantial damage to the airplane. The Airline Transport Certificated pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident and the flight was being operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91 without a flight plan. The local flight was for the purpose of practicing takeoffs and landings in the tailwheel airplane. On the fourth touch and go, the pilot decided to land on a different runway with a mild crosswind and veered off the right side of the runway and hit a taxiway sign. The pilot tried to correct for the veer by using full left command to the rudder. When he wasn't successful, he then attempted a go around with full power. However he went into the grass, which bogged down the acceleration of the airplane before he could get airborne, and the airplane struck a taxiway sign. The pilot's statement says that his inexperience in tailwheel aircraft was likely the root cause and additional training in tailwheel aircraft was called for.
The pilot's failure to compensate for crosswinds resulting in a loss of directional control while landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's lack of experience and training in tailwheeled airplanes.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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