Amateur-built KITFOX SERIES 5 N94SL accident near Greene, New York

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to attain adequate airspeed during the initial climb, which resulted in an exceedance of the wing’s critical angle-of-attack and a subsequent aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s lack of experience in the airplane make and model.

NTSB analysis

The private pilot, who had no previous experience in the airplane make and model, had purchased it about 1 year earlier and then stored it in his garage until the day of the accident. On the day of the accident, the pilot added 4 gallons of gas; he subsequently started the engine, taxied the airplane, and conducted engine run-ups for about 30 minutes to familiarize himself with the airplane. He powered up the engine three or four times, and during the last power up, the airplane lifted off. The pilot reported that he then attempted a three-point landing; this is all that he remembered about the accident sequence.

A witness reported that, after takeoff, the airplane "jerked" right and that the power settings changed. The airplane then "straightened out and smoothed out" and then continued to climb slowly to about 200 ft above the ground, at which point it banked "hard" left and then descended to impact. Another witness reported that the airplane "tipped" and "stalled" before its descent. A postcrash fire ensued, which consumed most of the airplane.

No preexisting mechanical anomalies were found that would have precluded normal operation, and the pilot reported no preexisting mechanical malfunctions or failures. Wind recorded at an airport about 10 miles from the departure airport about the time of the accident was from the direction of takeoff at 4 knots, and a witness noted that both windsocks were "dead" at the accident airport.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA14LA418 for the full record.