Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain aircraft control during an aborted formation takeoff.
NTSB analysis
The pilot stated that he was departing from runway 17 about 75 yards behind another airplane in tandem formation. During the takeoff roll, the lead airplane aborted the takeoff. The second airplane was near rotation speed when the pilot aborted the takeoff as well. Wanting not to get too close to the lead airplane, he departed the runway off the left side. The airplane became airborne, stalled, and the left wing tip impacted the ground, spinning the airplane and resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA09CA285 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 9, 2009
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Madison, Mississippi
- Nearest airport
- Madison (MBO)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Amateur-built KitFox 4
- N-number
- N248DR
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.