Takeoff & Initial Climb · NTSB WPR21FA232
Kitfox Series 6 — Likely, CA
| Date | June 20, 2021 |
| Location | Likely, CA |
| Aircraft | Kitfox Series 6 (amateur-built) |
| Purpose of flight | Personal |
| Conditions | Day · Visual Meteorological Cond |
| Phase / occurrence | Takeoff Collision during takeoff/land |
| Pilot age | 65 |
| Pilot total time | 1,010 hrs · Experienced |
| Time in type | 794 hrs |
| Fatalities | 1, 1 serious |
Probable cause
NTSB findings
- Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot
- Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Aircraft capability-Takeoff distance-Attain/maintain not possible
- Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of equip/system-Pilot
- Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Temp/humidity/pressure-High density altitude-Effect on operation
- Environmental issues-Physical environment-Terrain-(general)-Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues-Physical environment-Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface-(general)-Effect on operation
What happened
Witnesses located near the accident site reported that the pilot attempted to take off from the field on a westerly heading; however, it appeared that the airplane could not attain adequate speed to get off the ground. The witnesses heard the engine sound decrease and watched the pilot turn the airplane 180° and initiate a second takeoff, this time to the east. The airplane became airborne about 20 yards from a canal road and climbed to about 10 to 20 ft above the ground. As the airplane approached the canal, it began to descend and impacted the upper eastern edge of the canal, spun around, and slid down into the water. The pilot had no recollection of the accident sequence.
Examination revealed no anomalies with the airframe or engine that would have precluded normal operation, and damage signatures and witness accounts indicated that the engine was producing power at the time of the accident. The departure field, which was about 1,150 ft long, comprised rough terrain with vegetation about 2 to 3 ft in height. The calculated density altitude about the time of the accident was 6,635 ft, with a pressure altitude of 4,297 ft.
The height of the vegetation most likely increased resistance on the tires during the takeoff roll, which reduced the airplane’s acceleration. Coupled with the high-density altitude conditions, it is likely that the airplane’s required takeoff distance exceeded the field length available, which resulted in impact with terrain.