NTSB Factual Report

On September 19, 2003, at 0942 central daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built, Brice Lancair Legacy, N27RM, sustained substantial damage when it struck trees and terrain during an aborted takeoff from runway 30 (2,600 feet by 40 feet, asphalt), at the Kimberling Airways Airport, Kimberling City, Missouri. The 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight was operating in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan. The pilot reported no injuries. The flight was originating at the time of the accident with Tulsa, Oklahoma, as the intended destination.

According to the pilot's written statement he left his pitot cover at a prior destination. The pilot stated that after arriving at home he fabricated a paper cover and placed it over the pitot tube to keep out the "Mud Dauber Wasps." The pilot reported that during his pre-flight he "forgot to remove the temporary pitot cover I had fabricated, since I had failed to place an adequate warning flag on it." The pilot stated that during takeoff roll he checked the airspeed indicator and it read 40 knots. The pilot reported that on rotation he heard an aural angle of attack warning. The pilot looked at the airspeed indicator and it read 65 knots. The pilot stated that he tried to rotate a second time and once again heard an aural angle of attack warning. The pilot reported that he decided to abort the takeoff. The pilot stated that there was not sufficient runway to stop. The pilot reported the aircraft went off the departure end of the runway and impacted the trees.

NTSB Probable Cause

The pilot's delayed aborted takeoff. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's inadequate preflight planning/preparation in his failure to remove the pitot cover.