Gleason SKY STAR KITFOX N852PG

Summary

On 12 September 2005 at about 15:00 local time, a Gleason SKY STAR KITFOX registered N852PG was involved in an accident near Klamath Falls, Oregon, 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

12 September 2005 at 15:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Klamath Falls, Oregon, United States

Nearest airport

Klamath Falls (LMT)

Coordinates

42.1561, -121.7331

Aircraft

Gleason SKY STAR KITFOX

Registration

N852PG

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Klamath Falls → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

SEA05CA191

Nobody was injured.

The binding of the flaperon push pull tube due to deformation of the front seat, which resulted in a loss of control on takeoff initial climb and collision with the runway.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot/builder, he had completed the required number of initial solo flight hours following construction of the experimental airplane, and he wanted to familiarize himself with the airplane's flight characteristics when carrying additional weight before carrying a passenger. He placed a bag of cement in the right seat and used the lap and shoulder belts to secure the bag. He completed a "normal runup and control checks" and then performed a normal takeoff on runway 14. At an altitude of 20 to 30 feet, he "could not move flaperons." As he "applied more pressure stick moved abruptly to right." The airplane banked to the right, the pilot corrected, and the airplane banked to the left. He was unable to maintain control of the airplane, and the left wingtip contacted the runway. The airplane settled onto the runway, and the left main gear collapsed. When the pilot examined the airplane after the accident, he found scrape marks on the flaperon push pull tube that was routed below the front seat. He also noted that the "seat was lower than normal after crash."

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.