What happened
On October 17, 2025, at approximately 11:54 EDT, a Kitfox II, registration N8610X, was destroyed in an accident near Spruce Pine, North Carolina. The aircraft was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal use.
Witnesses observed the pilot complete one takeoff and landing on the grass runway 17 at Avery County Airport-all Morrison. Later, witnesses saw the aircraft taxiing on the grass east of the asphalt runway near the windsock. One witness reported seeing the aircraft performing a takeoff roll from the east side of the airport, parallel to runway 17.
The aircraft impacted terrain approximately 60 feet below the airport field elevation on a brush-covered embankment southeast of the approach end of runway 35. The aircraft struck the ground in a nose-low attitude on a northwesterly heading. The accident resulted in 1 fatality.
The investigation
Examination of the wreckage showed that the airframe fabric was destroyed by a post-impact fire. The underlying tubular structure showed aft crushing consistent with the impact. While both wings remained partially attached to the fuselage, the flaperons had separated from their respective wings. Flight control continuity was maintained from the cockpit to the center fuselage for the flaperon controls, and the empennage—including the horizontal and vertical stabilizers, elevator, and rudder—remained attached to the airframe. Control continuity was also established for the rudder and elevator.
The engine was found partially attached to the airframe, though the propeller had separated from the engine at the gearbox. The three composite propeller blades showed thermal damage; one blade was separated near the hub, and another was partially cracked near the hub.
An initial examination of the engine revealed damage consistent with the impact and subsequent fire. The crankshaft could not be rotated due to impact-related damage. However, after removing the cylinder head and cylinders, investigators found no anomalies in the engine that would have prevented normal operation.