N32495

On March 14, 1996, at 1615 eastern standard time, a Kitfox IV-1200, N32495, impacted the runway shortly after takeoff at Hummel Field, in Saluda, Virginia. The certificated private pilot reported no injuries, and the one passenger received minor injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, no flight plan was filed. The local flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot stated that as the airplane climbed through about 50 feet above the ground after takeoff, there was a partial loss of engine power. He stated that the airplane would not climb, so he elected to land on the remaining runway. The pilot reported that he knew that the airplane would touch down very near the end of the runway, and he was concerned about hitting the lights at the end of the runway. He stated that in his attempt to avoid the lights at the end of the runway, he "...ran out of airspeed... ." He reported that the airplane stalled at approximately ten feet above the surface, impacted the runway in a steep nose down attitude, then "...rolled over onto it's back."

A post accident inspection of the aircraft by Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) safety inspectors included an electrical function test under compression load for each of the four engine spark plugs. The number one spark plug in the number one cylinder failed this test. No other mechanical anomalies were noted. The pilot's written statement indicated that the spark plug operated normally under low load conditions, but "...[stopped] under full load. [This] was not detected on run up or liftoff."