Potts KITFOX N139SP

Summary

On 25 March 2002 at about 16:00 local time, a Potts KITFOX registered N139SP was involved in an accident near Shoup, Idaho, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 March 2002 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Shoup, Idaho, United States

Nearest airport

Colson Creek

Coordinates

45.3897, -114.4202

Aircraft

Potts KITFOX

Registration

N139SP

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Shoup → Challis

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA02LA059

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain a speed above stall speed, and the resulting inadvertent stall/mush. Factors include the pilot's failure to abort the takeoff when he realized the aircraft's performance was not as expected, his decision to attempt a takeoff after experiencing an unacceptable rpm drop on each magneto during the engine run-up check, and the failure of the magnetos to maintain an acceptable engine rpm when operated individually.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot attempted a takeoff in an experimental aircraft who's engine/propeller combination had not produced the expected rpm since the pilot/builder changed the engine but did not change the propeller. Prior to the attempted takeoff, the pilot experienced a 250 rpm drop on each magneto during the engine run-up check. During the takeoff roll, the pilot realized that the aircraft was not performing as desired, and momentarily thought about aborting, but instead continued. After liftoff, the pilot was unable to get the aircraft to climb, and as he was making a turn over a river situated off the departure end of the runway, the aircraft stall/mushed, and one wing drug in the water. Immediately after the wing contacted the water, the aircraft cartwheeled along the river's surface, coming to rest upright in about 30 inches of water.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.