The airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain at about 1317 Pacific time. The solo private pilot was seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot later reported delaying his takeoff until the windsock indicated favorable winds. The pilot stated the initial climb appeared to be normal until about 200 to 300 feet agl when the airplane suddenly began to lose altitude. By the time the airplane descended to 30 to 40 feet agl, he saw a red light illuminate on his engine instrumentation system before the airplane stalled. Subsequently, the airplane descended in a nose-low attitude between two tree lines and impacted the ground adjacent to a river about one mile north of the departure airport.
March 4, 2011, Myrtle Creek, Ore., Kitfox Classic IV
The airplane sustained substantial damage when it impacted terrain at about 1317 Pacific time. The solo private pilot was seriously injured. Visual conditions prevailed. The pilot later reported delaying his takeoff until the windsock indicated favorable winds. The pilot stated the initial climb appeared to be normal until about 200 to 300 feet agl when the airplane suddenly began to lose altitude.
Key Takeaways:
- A private pilot sustained serious injuries and his airplane substantial damage after crashing shortly after takeoff due to a sudden loss of altitude and subsequent stall.
- The pilot reported a normal initial climb to 200-300 feet AGL, followed by an unexpected descent and the illumination of an engine warning light at 30-40 feet AGL before the stall.
- The aircraft impacted terrain in a nose-low attitude between two tree lines, approximately one mile north of the departure airport.
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