Rehn KITFOX IV accident near Vancouver, WA
On June 27, 2012, a Rehn KITFOX IV (airplane) was involved in an accident near Vancouver, WA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- June 27, 2012
- Place
- Vancouver, WA
- Aircraft
- Rehn KITFOX IV · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 45.620°N, 122.655°W
- NTSB ID
- 20120628X15555
Official records · WPR12LA277
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn June 27, 2012, at 1607 Pacific daylight time, a Rehn Kitfox IV, N645GR, collided with terrain while attempting to return to land immediately after takeoff, at Pearson Field Airport, Vancouver, Washington. The commercial pilot operated the airplane under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations, Part 91. The Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) rated passenger was killed, the commercial pilot was seriously injured, and the airplane was substantially damaged. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed. A witness reported to police personnel that after takeoff he heard audible sounds indicative of an engine problem. The airplane started to make a controlled turn back to the runway and crashed in a 45-degree nose down attitude. PERSONNEL INFORMATIONThe pilot, age 42, held a commercial pilot certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine land and instrument-airplane, and held a Class 2 medical certificate issued on July 15, 2011. On the pilot's medical application he reported total flight experience of 415 hours. The pilot does not recall the events leading up to the accident. The pilot-rated passenger, age 61, held an airline transport pilot (ATP) certificate with ratings for airplane multi-engine land, airplane single-engine land, airplane single-engine sea, and rotorcraft-helicopter. He held a flight instructor certificate with ratings for airplane single-engine and multi-engine, rotorcraft-helicopter, and instrument-airplane. He also held an airframe & powerplant mechanic certificate issued on March 15, 2005.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during an attempt to return to the runway immediately after takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was foreign debris in the right-hand carburetor bowl, which precipitated a loss of engine power.
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Browse: Washington
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
