What happened
On 28 August 2007, a Denney Kitfox, registration G-FOXX, departed from a grass runway at Branscombe, near Exeter, Devon, for a private flight. During the initial climb, while the aircraft was still at a very low altitude, the right wing dropped, causing the aircraft to enter a 90-degree right turn. During this maneuver, the wing tip struck a wire fence, which resulted in the loss of the wing tip.
In an attempt to avoid power lines, the pilot transitioned into a steep climbing attitude. This maneuver led to an aerodynamic stall, causing the aircraft to descend in a wings-level attitude into a line of trees. The impact with the tree canopy forced the aircraft into a near-vertical, nose-down position. The aircraft came to rest with its nose on the ground and the tail suspended in the trees. The pilot sustained minor injuries and was able to exit the cockpit and walk back to the airfield after returning to the wreckage to disable the master switch and ignition.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. Investigators noted that the pilot had recently acquired G-FOXX and that this flight represented his first time operating this specific aircraft type. The pilot's flying experience included 544 total hours, though he had only one hour of experience on this model.
Findings
- The aircraft suffered substantial damage to its fuselage, propeller, and wings.
- The pilot identified the primary cause of the accident as a stall during takeoff resulting from a lack of experience on the aircraft type.
- The pilot noted that more thorough pre-flight preparations might have mitigated the circumstances leading to the accident.