Takeoff & Initial Climb · NTSB ERA24LA316
SHEAFFER LEROY B KITFOX MODEL IV — Palmyra, PA
| Date | July 19, 2024 |
| Location | Palmyra, PA |
| Aircraft | SHEAFFER LEROY B KITFOX MODEL IV (amateur-built) |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Takeoff Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) |
| Pilot age | 68 |
| Pilot total time | 545 hrs · Building experience |
| Time in type | 98 hrs |
| Fatalities | 1 |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained
What happened
The pilot stated that, during takeoff from a 40-ft-wide runway and just as he lifted the tailwheel off the ground, the airplane immediately turned left and departed the runway. The airplane bounced hard and fractured the right main landing gear, coming to rest upright in a corn field. There was a right crosswind at the time of departure and the right wing lifted as soon as the tailwheel left the ground.
During a postaccident examination of the airplane, flight control continuity was established to all flight controls and no preimpact mechanical malfunctions were identified. The right main landing gear was fractured off and the brake line was severed. Both wheels spun freely and the brakes were not seized up.