20140524007929A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Smythe Donald F KITFOX CLASSIC IV · Slaughter, LA · May 24, 2014

Date: May 24, 2014 · 10:30 local
Place: Slaughter, LA
Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N998DS
NTSB investigation: NTSBCEN14LA251
Reported as: Smythe Donald F Kitfox Classic IV
Reported engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 1
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 200 total30 in this make and model20 in the last 90 days

N998DSRegistered now · Smythe Donald F KITFOX CLASSIC IVS/N C9508-0124 · Built 2000 Airframe modelSmythe Donald F KITFOX CLASSIC IV Engine modelBombardier ROTAX (ALL)Reciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Pilot stated that on t/o climb-out, he noticed he didn't have enough rate of climb to clear trees, so he aborted t/o and upon turning back towards field, the r/h wing tip hit the ground and caused a/c to nose in and break-up propeller and front of a/c smashed in. No injuris to pilot and serious injuries to passenger.

As the FAA filed it

PILOT STATED THAT ON T/O CLIMB-OUT, HE NOTICED HE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH RATE OF CLIMB TO CLEAR TREES, SO HE ABORTED T/O AND UPON TURNING BACK TOWARDS FIELD, THE R/H WING TIP HIT THE GROUND AND CAUSED A/C TO NOSE IN AND BREAK-UP PROPELLER AND FRONT OF A/C SMASHED IN. NO INJURIS TO PILOT AND SERIOUS INJURIES TO PASSENGER.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB CEN14LA251Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSlaughter, LAThe pilot’s inadequate preflight planning, which resulted in his attempt to takeoff in conditions under which the airplane was unable to attain a positive rate of climb and resulted in its failure to clear trees.May 24, 2014 · Substantial damage