20240719011429A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Sheaffer Leroy B KITFOX MODEL IV · Palmyra, PA · July 19, 2024

Date
July 19, 2024 · 14:10 local
Place
Palmyra, PA
Airport
Reigle Field
Phase of flight
Takeoff: Rotation
Operating rules
General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage
Substantial damage
Aircraft
N788KF
NTSB investigation
NTSBERA24LA316
Reported as
Sheaffer Leroy B Kitfox Model IV
Reported engine
ROTAX 912ULS series
People aboard
2
Fatal injuries
1
Other injuries
1
Pilot’s certificate
Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours
550 total224 in this make and model6 in the last 90 days

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.

The aircraft accelerated for takeoff. It veered off the left side of the runway, skidding into a cornfield where it came to rest. The passenger died on July 26, 2024 from a heart attack; this accident is listed as a contributing factor to his passing.

As the FAA filed it

THE AIRCRAFT ACCELERATED FOR TAKEOFF. IT VEERED OFF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE RUNWAY, SKIDDING INTO A CORNFIELD WHERE IT CAME TO REST. THE PASSENGER DIED ON JULY 26, 2024 FROM A HEART ATTACK; THIS ACCIDENT IS LISTED AS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR TO HIS PASSING.

NTSB investigation

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