Larson KITFOX III N5278U

Summary

On 13 November 2002 at about 22:30 local time, a Larson KITFOX III registered N5278U was involved in an accident near Little Rock, Arkansas, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

13 November 2002 at 22:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Little Rock, Arkansas, United States

Nearest airport

Pumpkin Patch

Coordinates

34.7294, -92.2244

Aircraft

Larson KITFOX III

Registration

N5278U

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Little Rock → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

FTW03LA039

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during an intentional taxi resulting in the inadvertent lift-off of the airplane and subsequent inadvertent stall. Contributing factors were the pilot's lack of total experience in the make and model of aircraft, and the wind.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

While the pilot taxied the airplane at the private grass airstrip, the homebuilt airplane inadvertently became airborne. After becoming airborne, "apparently due to a gust of wind," the airplane "appeared to be flying just above the stall speed" approximately 100-200 feet agl. Beyond the east end of the departure runway, the airplane circled left and then back toward the runway. As the airplane flew over the tree line adjacent to the runway, the "wing stalled and the airplane spun " to the ground. The 3,500 hour pilot had zero flight time in the make and model of the accident airplane. Flight control continuity was confirmed. No pre-impact discrepancies were found.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.