| Crash location | 27.961389°N, 80.559444°W |
| Nearest city | Valkaria, FL
27.963631°N, 80.543664°W 1.0 miles away |
| Tail number | N4367X |
|---|---|
| Accident date | 31 Jul 2016 |
| Aircraft type | Trick Trikes Storm |
| Additional details: | None |
The pilot of the weight-shift aircraft reported that during takeoff he pitched upward excessively early for the aircraft's weight. Several feet above the ground, the aircraft descended and bounced off the runway. The pilot tried to regain control and take off again, but the aircraft came back down and bounced on the runway. The left main landing gear collapsed and the aircraft slid down the runway approximately 75 feet before coming to rest. The pilot reported there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation of the aircraft. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the fuselage was substantially damaged.
The pilot’s premature rotation during takeoff, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and a hard landing.