Desert Fox 1 N10ZR

Summary

On 27 June 2024 at about 18:30 local time, a Desert Fox 1 registered N10ZR was involved in an accident near Ellicott, Colorado, United States. One person was 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

27 June 2024 at 18:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Ellicott, Colorado, United States

Nearest airport

Colorado Springs East (CO4)

Coordinates

38.8740, -104.4089

Aircraft

Desert Fox 1

Registration

N10ZR

Category

Airplane

Year built

2019

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

CEN24LA244

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's decision to takeoff with a quartering tailwind and high density altitude which resulted in a runway overrun. Contributing to the accident was the failure of the right main axle mount due to the poor weld.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the airplane felt “sluggish” during the takeoff roll and the airplane bounced down the dirt runway. He said that he aborted the takeoff, the airplane would not turn right, and the airplane overran the end of the runway. Subsequently, the landing gear strut dug into the ground, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane’s fuselage, wings, and empennage were substantially damaged. An FAA inspector that responded to the accident reported that there was evidence of nine impact points from the right main wheel along the runway for about 60% of the runway length. Post accident examination of the airplane revealed that the right main landing gear axle mount had separated from the landing gear leg due to insufficient penetration of its weld. The insufficient weld likely reduced the overall strength of the landing gear, which resulted in its separation during the takeoff roll. About the time of the takeoff from runway 17L, density altitude was about 9,700 ft and the nearest reported winds 9 miles northwest of the accident site were from 270° at 11 knots gusting to 14 knots.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.