Summary
On June 02, 1998, a Sheets KITFOX II (N487JS) was involved in an accident near Greenfield, IA. The accident resulted in 1 minor injury, with 1 person uninjured out of 2 aboard. The aircraft was destroyed.
The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident to be: The initial climb airspeed not obtained/maintained after liftoff by the pilot in command. A factor was the improper compensation for wind conditions by the pilot in command.
On June 2, 1998, at 1830 central daylight time, a Sheets Kitfox II, N487JS, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed when it impacted the terrain, following a loss of control during takeoff from runway 32 (2500' x 45', dry, asphalt) at the Greenfield Municipal Airport, near Greenfield, Iowa. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The one passenger reported no injures. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.
According to the pilot's written statement, the pilot was attempting a normal takeoff at the time of the accident.
This accident is documented in NTSB report CHI98LA186. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N487JS.
Accident Details
Probable Cause and Findings
the initial climb airspeed not obtained/maintained after liftoff by the pilot in command. A factor was the improper compensation for wind conditions by the pilot in command.
Aircraft Information
Registered Owner (Historical)
Analysis
On June 2, 1998, at 1830 central daylight time, a Sheets Kitfox II, N487JS, piloted by a private pilot, was destroyed when it impacted the terrain, following a loss of control during takeoff from runway 32 (2500' x 45', dry, asphalt) at the Greenfield Municipal Airport, near Greenfield, Iowa. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was not operating on a flight plan. The pilot sustained minor injuries. The one passenger reported no injures. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.
According to the pilot's written statement, the pilot was attempting a normal takeoff at the time of the accident. The pilot stated that he was using 20-degrees of flaps for takeoff, which is not the normal takeoff configuration, because he was testing a new takeoff technique he had seen in an aviation publication. The piloted stated that the aircraft became airborne, sooner than expected, and drifted to the right of the runway centerline. While the aircraft was drifting across the runway it impacted the ground approximately 30' from the runway centerline.
In a telephone conversation with the pilot, he stated that the accident could of been avoided if he had built up additional airspeed before liftoff and after liftoff kept the aircraft low in ground effect.
Data Source
Data provided by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). For more information on this event, visit the NTSB Records Search website. NTSB# CHI98LA186