Airplane Entered An Aerodynamic Stall And Began An Uncommanded Left Turn

Location: Cave Junction, Oregon Accident Number: WPR23LA243
Date & Time: June 24, 2023, 09:00 Local Registration: N729U
Aircraft: Kitfox 2 Aircraft Damage: Substantial
Defining Event: Loss of control in flight Injuries: 1 None
Flight Conducted Under: Part 91: General aviation - Personal

Analysis: The pilot stated that he was departing at the time of the accident. As the airplane became airborne, it climbed to about 30 ft above ground level and the pilot was applying left rudder to counteract the torque from the engine. The airplane entered an aerodynamic stall and began an uncommanded left turn. The pilot did not have enough altitude to recover and the airplane continued to turn left. The right wing struck a tree and the airplane impacted the ground and came to rest upright. 

The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident examination revealed that there was no evidence of a mechanical malfunction and all control linkages were intact and operational.

Probable Cause and Findings: The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this accident to be -- The pilot’s failure to maintain proper airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov