Kitfox IV-1200 N32495

Summary

On 14 March 1996 at about 21:15 local time, a Kitfox IV-1200 registered N32495 was involved in an accident near Saluda, Virginia, United States. 2 people were on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 March 1996 at 21:15

Classification

Accident

Location

Saluda, Virginia, United States

Nearest airport

Hummel Field (W75)

Coordinates

37.5991, -76.5896

Aircraft

Kitfox IV-1200

Registration

N32495

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

IAD96LA049

1 person had minor injuries.

a partial loss of engine power due to spark plug failure, and the pilot's evasive maneuver to avoid lights at the end of the runway.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot stated that there was a partial loss of engine power shortly after the airplane lifted off. The airplane would not climb, so he elected to land on the remaining runway. In his attempt to avoid lights at the end of the runway, the pilot stalled the airplane approximately ten feet above the surface. The airplane impacted the runway in a steep nose down attitude, then '...rolled over onto it's back.' Postaccident investigation revealed that the #1 spark plug failed an electrical function test. The pilot stated that the spark plug operated normally under low load conditions, but '...[stopped] under full load.'

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.