| Crash location | 29.066945°N, 81.283889°W |
| Nearest city | De Land, FL
29.028318°N, 81.303118°W 2.9 miles away |
| Tail number | N1441Z |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 29 Sep 2002 |
| Aircraft type | Ronald Levee Kitfox IV |
| Additional details: | None |
On September 29, 2002, about 0926 eastern daylight time, a homebuilt Kitfox IV, N1441Z, registered to a private individual, experienced a loss of directional control during landing at De Land Municipal-Sidney H. Taylor Field Airport, De Land, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private-rated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. The flight originated about 41 minutes earlier from the De Land Municipal-Sidney H. Taylor Field Airport.
The pilot stated that after returning to the departure airport, he entered the traffic pattern for runway 30 (announcing all positions), and noticed a Cessna 172 taxied onto the approach end of runway 30. He continued the downwind leg, turned base, and observed the Cessna 172 was still on the runway. He turned final approach and observed that the Cessna 172 was starting the takeoff roll. He slowed the airplane, and later reported there was a slight crosswind from the right. He touched down first on the right main landing gear, and reported experiencing a blast of air from the right. The airplane then bounced and weather vaned to the right. He then overcorrected with aileron input causing the left wingtip to contact the runway. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and came to rest heading 030 degrees; the right main landing gear was collapsed and the left main landing gear was separated. The pilot reported there was no mechanical failure or malfunction.
Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that the right wingtip contacted the runway. Additionally, the pilot reported to the FAA inspector that he should have performed a go-around rather than be in close proximity to the departing Cessna 172 airplane at the point of touchdown.
The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during the flare/touchdown resulting in substantial damage. A factor in the accident was the poor in-flight planning decision by the pilot for his continuing the approach in close proximity to a departing airplane.