Accident Details
On August 3, 2023, at 0930 eastern daylight time, an unregistered Kolb Firestar sustained substantial damage in an accident near McAlpin, Florida. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was being operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
Witness Account
A witness located along the middle of runway 18 at Little River Airport (FL10) reported that he watched the accident pilot taxi by his hangar at about 0930 and proceed to the end of runway 18 to complete an engine runup and preflight check. He then observed the pilot begin the takeoff roll. As the airplane passed his hangar, the witness lost sight of it due to the hangar blocking his view. He heard a decrease in engine noise, which he attributed to the pilot aborting the takeoff, as if power was reduced to idle. The witness went inside his house for a few minutes before deciding to drive down the runway to check if the pilot needed assistance. He drove to the end of runway 18 but did not see the pilot or the airplane.
Later that evening, around 1800, the witness heard from neighbors that the pilot and airplane were missing. He drove down the runway again to search but saw nothing. Around 2000, he walked down the runway and looked into the tree line. After entering the woods, he located the airplane suspended about 50 ft above him in the treetops, with the deceased pilot lying on the ground next to a tree.
Wreckage and Site Information
The accident site was in a wooded area, displaced laterally about 50 ft from the middle of runway 18. The airplane was found inverted and hanging from the left main landing gear. The airplane was later lowered to the ground. Damage included approximately 4 ft of the left outer wing and the rudder being impact-damaged. The right wing's fabric was torn. The engine and cabin section were intact and appeared unremarkable. The propeller was also unremarkable. The pilot's 4-point restraint was found unlatched.
Engine and Flight Control Examination
An engine test run was conducted; the engine started immediately when the key was turned to the start position. It ran smoothly and achieved high rpm without any hesitation or anomalies noted. Flight control continuity was established from all flight control surfaces to the cockpit controls.