Amateur-built II N8610X accident near Spruce Pine, North Carolina

Preliminary information

On October 17, 2025, about 1154 eastern daylight time, an amateur-built II airplane, N8610X was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Spruce Pine, North Carolina. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.

Witness 1 reported that the pilot completed one takeoff and landing on grass runway 17 at the Avery County Airport-Morrison. Later, two witnesses saw the airplane taxiing on the grass east of the asphalt runway near the windsock. Witness 1 reported that he briefly observed what appeared to be the accident airplane executing a takeoff roll from the east side of the airport, parallel to runway 17 (Figure 1).

Figure 1 – Overview of Accident Site

The accident site was located about 60 ft below airport field elevation on the side of a brush-covered embankment southeast of the approach end of runway 35. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted the terrain in a nose-low attitude on a northwesterly heading (See Figure 2).

The airframe fabric was consumed by the post impact fire, and the underlying tubular structure exhibited aft crushing consistent with impact damage. Both wings remained partially attached to the fuselage, with both flaperons found separated near their respective wings. Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit to the center fuselage near the wing roots for flaperon controls. The empennage, to include the horizontal and vertical stabilizer, elevator, and rudder, remained attached to the airframe. The rudder and elevator controls were continuous from the cockpit to their respective control surfaces.

The engine was found partially attached to the airframe, with the propeller separated from the engine at the gearbox. The main wreckage was partially embedded in the ground. All three composite propeller blades were found to be thermally damaged and relatively straight. Blade A was separated near the propeller hub, blade B was partially cracked near the propeller hub, and blade C was unremarkable.

Initial examination of the engine revealed damage to the engine assembly consistent with impact and the post impact fire. The crankshaft could not be rotated due to damage consistent with the impact sequence. The cylinder head and cylinders were removed, and no anomalies were observed to the engine that would have precluded normal operation.

Figure 2 – View of Main Wreckage

Text from the NTSB; a preliminary report can change and names no cause. Open the NTSB docket for CEN26FA022 for the full record.