NTSB Factual Report

On April 26, 2006, at 0926 Pacific daylight time, an Ely Kitfox III, N91JE, was substantially damaged when the airplane ground-looped during a takeoff attempt at Lewiston-Nez Perce County Airport (LWS), Lewiston, Idaho. The flight instructor and private pilot receiving instruction were not injured. The private pilot/owner was operating the airplane under Title 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the local instructional flight which was originating at the time of the accident. A flight plan had not been filed.

The private pilot receiving instruction said that during the takeoff roll the airplane was "unable to achieve takeoff." The power was cut to abort the takeoff and the airplane appeared to angle toward a taxi way marker. "I over corrected to the left and caused the aircraft to ground loop." The flight instructor said that the cockpit was "pretty tight" for him, and he had some trouble manipulating the rudder peddles in size 13 shoes. He further stated that when the pilot receiving instruction made a rudder peddle input, the airplane ground-looped before he could do anything.

NTSB Probable Cause

Failure to maintain aircraft control during the landing roll from an aborted takeoff. Excessive use of the rudder to control the airplane, the subsequent inadvertent ground loop, and the inadequate supervision by the flight instructor were factors.