NTSB Factual Report

On August 15, 2004, at approximately 1900 Pacific daylight time, a Beyers Kitfox IV, N90TY, was substantially damaged when it departed the runway and impacted trees during landing rollout at Olmstead Sky Ranch Airport (ID25) near Sandpoint, Idaho. The private pilot, the sole occupant of the aircraft, was not injured. The pilot/owner was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local personal flight, which originated approximately 15 minutes before the accident. The pilot had not filed a flight plan.

The pilot said that he was landing the airplane on a grass airstrip (runway 16) when his left wheel impacted a hole, and the airplane deviated to the left. The pilot said that he applied full right rudder, but did not regain control of the airplane before it impacted trees. The right wing's leading edge spar was bent, the left main landing gear was folded back, the horizontal stabilizer was bent, and the empennage was wrinkled.

The Bonner County Sheriff reported that the pilot told him that he landed the airplane "too hard," and he lost control as it landed on the grassy runway. The Sheriff said that "the runway was safe from any hazards, and cleared of any debris." The owner of the runway did put some dirt in a hole the day after the accident. The Federal Aviation Administration inspector that examined the runway said that it appeared to be a "good grass airstrip."

The pilot said that he passed his private pilot check ride in June 2004; his private pilot license with assigned number was pending.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing roll. Contributing factors were the rough grass runway, and the trees on the left side of the runway.