- Date
- September 6, 2007, 18:00 local (22:00 UTC)
- Place
- Cowen, WV
- Injuries
- 1 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Enroute
- Aircraft
- N93FDFurey Kitfox IV
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 20, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20070906830729A
- Case key
- 66610
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The in-flight collision with a bird resulting in separation of the propeller.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that while at a cruising altitude of about 1,000 feet above ground, a large bird impacted the airplane's wooden propeller, causing it to separate. At the time the airplane was flying at about 110 mph. The pilot made a forced landing in a field with power lines and fences. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted a fence. The airplane then traveled down an embankment and flipped over before coming to a stop. The pilot stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident.
Factual narrative
The pilot stated that while at a cruising altitude of about 1,000 feet above ground, a large bird impacted the airplane's wooden propeller, causing it to separate. At the time the airplane was flying at about 110 mph. The pilot made a force landing in a field with power lines and fences. During the landing roll, the airplane impacted a fence. The airplane then traveled down an embankment and flipped over before coming to a stop. The pilot stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N93FD
- Reported as
- Furey Kitfox IV
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- JBSO72
- Airframe hours
- 811
- Engine
- Rotax 912UL, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- Dwayne McCourt
- Registered owner
- Dwayne McCourt
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · September 1, 2006
- Departed
- Craigsville, WV
- Destination
- Upper Glade, WV
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 43
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Sport pilot
- Flight hours
- 791 total · 611 in this make and model · 147 in the last 90 days · 59 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 260° at 3 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 88 °F, dew point 57 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.20 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.