The pilot reported that, while en route, he observed that his passenger was becoming ill. He reached for the “sick bags,” but he was unable to reach them due to his seat belt.
He decided to make a precautionary landing on a dirt road near Page, Arizona. During the landing flare, a wind gust “pushed the right wing up,” the Kitfox IV Speedster drifted left, and the left wing hit a tree. The airplane rotated counterclockwise and hit the ground.
The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and right wing.
The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The pilot reported that the wind was from an unknown direction at 8 to 14 knots, gusting to 14 to 16 knots. The automated weather observation station located about 12 miles from the accident site reported that, about 7 minutes before the accident, the wind was variable at 3 knots. The pilot was landing to the south.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain lateral control during the landing flare, which resulted in the left wing striking a tree.
This February 2019 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
So did the passenger throw up in the cockpit anyway? I hate it when they leave out those important details.