Accident Overview
On May 1, 2013, about 1240 central daylight time, a Robert Mason Kolb Mark 3X airplane, registered as N125KP, collided with trees and a fence after departing from a private airstrip in Lawrence, Kansas. The pilot, who did not hold a pilot certificate, sustained serious injuries. The aircraft was owned and operated by a private individual but remained registered to the previous owner. The flight was conducted under 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident.
Witness Account
The pilot's wife witnessed the accident. She reported that she first saw the airplane on the ground with the engine running. The flight controls moved, and the engine revved up and down. The power increased again, and the airplane began to move. The tail lifted off, and the airplane veered slightly in one direction, straightened out, and the power increased. The airplane lifted off the ground and made a slight turn to the right before impacting trees and a fence at the southwest corner of the property.
Pilot Statements
The pilot initially stated that the engine lost power on takeoff. Later, he told a Federal Aviation Administration inspector that he did not remember what happened.
Aircraft Examination and Runway Details
A visual examination of the aircraft and engine did not reveal any anomalies that would have prevented normal operation. The fence and trees were about 900 feet from the beginning of the airstrip. The pilot departed to the south on a flat area of runway that was 300 feet long and topped with freshly seeded dirt.
Weather Conditions
Weather recorded at Lawrence Municipal Airport (LWC), located 6 miles north of the accident site, at 1252, included wind from 060 degrees at 10 knots gusting to 14 knots, visibility 8 miles, sky condition 4,000 feet scattered, temperature 26°C, dew point 16°C, and altimeter 29.98 inches of mercury.
Pilot Background
A review of records showed the pilot did not hold a pilot certificate. He stated he purchased the already built airplane a couple of months prior and had flown it 2 or 3 hours. He reported approximately 40 years of flying experience, including about 40 hours of helicopter flight time.
Aircraft Information
The airplane was issued a Special Experimental Light Sport Airworthiness certificate on October 18, 2006. It was powered by a Rotax 582 reciprocating engine.