Rasmussen KITFOX 2 N488WR

Summary

On 1 October 1995 at about 21:50 local time, a Rasmussen KITFOX 2 registered N488WR was involved in an accident near Battle Ground, Washington, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, 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

1 October 1995 at 21:50

Classification

Accident

Location

Battle Ground, Washington, United States

Coordinates

45.7996, -122.4802

Aircraft

Rasmussen KITFOX 2

Registration

N488WR

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA96LA001

1 person died.

failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed during the initial climb after takeoff, which resulted in a stall/mush and subsequent collision with trees and the ground.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

Witnesses observed that the aircraft began a 'steep climb' after a normal lift-off, then it began to drift to the right of the runway. According to one witness, the aircraft leveled off approximately 50 to 100 feet above adjacent tall trees, while going 'very slowly,' and then it began turning right and descending. The passenger stated that the aircraft's nose dropped after takeoff and again during the level-off. Subsequently, the airplane struck treetops and crashed. After impacting terrain, the aircraft burst into flames. The airport owner told a sheriff's deputy that the pilot usually flew alone; the passenger's weight of 195 pounds represented about 20 percent of the aircraft's 950-pound maximum gross weight. The kit manufacturer estimated that adding a 200-pound passenger would add 3 to 5 MPH to the aircraft's stall speed.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.