# NTSB WPR23LA243: Kitfox 2, N729U, Cave Junction, OR, June 24, 2023 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 24, 2023, 09:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Cave Junction, OR - Coordinates: 42.074028, -123.72478 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.0740&lon=-123.7248&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 192469 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA243 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/192469/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192469 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA243 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain proper airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Unger John L KITFOX II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=05618S8), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Unger John L KITFOX II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05618S8), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Unger John L KITFOX II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05618S8), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he was departing at the time of the accident. As the airplane became airborne, it climbed to about 30 ft above ground level and the pilot was applying left rudder to counteract the torque from the engine. The airplane entered an aerodynamic stall and began an uncommanded left turn. The pilot did not have enough altitude to recover and the airplane continued to turn left. The right wing struck a tree and the airplane impacted the ground and came to rest upright. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident examination revealed that there was no evidence of a mechanical malfunction and all control linkages were intact and operational. ## Factual narrative On June 24, 2023, about 0900 Pacific daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Kitfox 2, N729U, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Illinois Valley Airport, Cave Junction, Oregon. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated he had flown the airplane to the departure airport the day before to practice maneuvers. He placed the airplane in a hangar overnight and planned for the flight in the following morning. On the day of the accident, after performing a preflight inspection, the pilot departed runway 36. As the airplane became airborne, it climbed to about 30 ft above ground level, with the pilot applying left rudder to counteract the torque from the engine. The airplane entered an aerodynamic stall and began an uncommanded left turn. The pilot did not have enough altitude to recover and the airplane continued to turn left. The right wing struck a tree and the airplane impacted the ground and came to rest upright. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A Federal Aviation Administration certified mechanic examined the airplane following the accident. There was no evidence of a mechanical malfunction and all control linkages were intact and operational. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N729U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N729U), registered now, S/N 729, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Kitfox 2 - Registry model: [Unger John L KITFOX II](https://openairdocs.org/model/unger-john-l-kitfox-ii) (registry code 05618S8) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 729 - Year built: 1992 - Airframe hours: 306 - Engines: HKS 700E 60 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Condition, June 17, 2023, 3 hours before - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 3S4, Illinois Valley Airport, runway 36, 4,800 × 25 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review June 7, 2023; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 141 total, 24 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 280° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KBOK, 25 nm away - METAR: AUTO 28005KT 10SM OVC007 13/12 A3009 RMK AO2 SLP189 T01280117 ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20230624007889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20230624007889A), Jun 24, 2023: Unger John L KITFOX II, Cave Junction, OR, Substantial damage. On the day prior to the accident the pilot flew from OG31 to 3S4 and then practiced landings, slips, and ground control with no noted issues. On the accident… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 26, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=192469. 1.9 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 7 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17889189&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of conversation (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17909245&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Z%20-%20Attachment%2003%20-%20Record%20of%20Conversation%2023LA243-Rel.pdf - Photograph (provided by pilot) (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 238 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=16456656&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photographs-Rel.pdf From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.