Kitfox Series 7, N35KF: Accident occurred December 12, 2015 in Tracy, San Joaquin County, California

http://registry.faa.gov/N35KF

NTSB Identification: GAA16CA085
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Saturday, December 12, 2015 in Tracy, CA
Probable Cause Approval Date: 02/08/2016
Aircraft: KELM DAVID KITFOX 7, registration: N35KF
Injuries: 1 Uninjured.

NTSB investigators used data provided by various entities, including, but not limited to, the Federal Aviation Administration and/or the operator and did not travel in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft accident report.

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.

The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident as follows:
The pilot's failure to maintain pitch control during the landing, which resulted in a hard landing, runway excursion and impact with terrain.