Amateur-built II accident near Spruce Pine, North Carolina, October 17, 2025
On October 17, 2025 at about 3:54 pm local time, a amateur-built II, registered N8610X, was destroyed in an accident during takeoff near Spruce Pine, North Carolina (Avery County/Morrison Fld airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 17, 2025 · about 3:54 pm local time
- Place
- Spruce Pine, North Carolina · Avery County/Morrison Fld · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built II
- Registration
- N8610X · registry record · serial 004
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On October 17, 2025, about 1154 eastern daylight time, a Kitfox II airplane, N8610X was destroyed when it was involved in an accident near Spruce Pine, North Carolina. The pilot was fatally injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. Witness 1 reported that the pilot completed one takeoff and landing on grass runway 17 at the Avery County Airport-Morrison. Later, two witnesses saw the airplane taxiing on the grass east of the asphalt runway near the windsock. Witness 1 reported that he briefly observed what appeared to be the accident airplane executing a takeoff roll from the east side of the airport, parallel to runway 17 (Figure 1). Figure 1 – Overview of Accident Site The accident site was located about 60 ft below airport field elevation on the side of a brush-covered embankment southeast of the approach end of runway 35. Examination of the accident site revealed that the airplane impacted the terrain in a nose-low attitude on a northwesterly heading (See Figure 2). The airframe fabric was consumed by the post impact fire, and the underlying tubular structure exhibited aft crushing consistent with impact damage. Both wings remained partially attached to the fuselage, with both flaperons found separated near their respective wings. Flight control continuity was established from the cockpit to the center fuselage near the wing roots for flaperon controls. The empennage, to include the horizontal and vertical stabilizer, elevator, and rudder, remained attached to the airframe. The rudder and elevator controls were continuous from the cockpit to their respective control surfaces. The engine was found partially attached to the airframe, with the propeller separated from the engine at the gearbox. The main wreckage was partially embedded in the ground. All three composite propeller blades were found to be thermally damaged and relatively straight. Blade A was separated near the propeller hub, blade B was partially cracked near the propeller hub, and blade C was unremarkable. Initial examination of the engine revealed damage to the engine assembly consistent with impact and the post impact fire. The crankshaft could not be rotated due to damage consistent with the impact sequence. The cylinder head and cylinders were removed, and no anomalies were observed to the engine that would have precluded normal operation. Figure 2 – View of Main Wreckage
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Unknown or undetermined during takeoff defining event
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 17, 3,001 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 11:50 am from KMRN, 20 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KMRN 161550Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 21/10 A3012 RMK AO2 T02130102
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.