WPR23LA243

Factual narrative

On June 24, 2023, about 0900 Pacific daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Kitfox 2, N729U, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Illinois Valley Airport, Cave Junction, Oregon. The pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated he had flown the airplane to the departure airport the day before to practice maneuvers. He placed the airplane in a hangar overnight and planned for the flight in the following morning. On the day of the accident, after performing a preflight inspection, the pilot departed runway 36. As the airplane became airborne, it climbed to about 30 ft above ground level, with the pilot applying left rudder to counteract the torque from the engine. The airplane entered an aerodynamic stall and began an uncommanded left turn. The pilot did not have enough altitude to recover and the airplane continued to turn left. The right wing struck a tree and the airplane impacted the ground and came to rest upright. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A Federal Aviation Administration certified mechanic examined the airplane following the accident. There was no evidence of a mechanical malfunction and all control linkages were intact and operational. The pilot stated that he was departing at the time of the accident. As the airplane became airborne, it climbed to about 30 ft above ground level and the pilot was applying left rudder to counteract the torque from the engine. The airplane entered an aerodynamic stall and began an uncommanded left turn. The pilot did not have enough altitude to recover and the airplane continued to turn left. The right wing struck a tree and the airplane impacted the ground and came to rest upright. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. A postaccident examination revealed that there was no evidence of a mechanical malfunction and all control linkages were intact and operational. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Angle of attack-Not attained/maintained
• — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot