Date:	Wednesday 12 July 2023
Time:	14:00
Type:	Douglas A-4K Skyhawk
Owner/operator:	Draken International LLC
Registration:	N143EM
MSN:	13778
Year of manufacture:	1970
Total airframe hrs:	8576 hours
Fatalities:	Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1
Aircraft damage:	Substantial
Category:	Accident
Location:	MCAS Cherry Point (KNKT), Havelock, NC -   United States of America
Phase:	Take off
Nature:	Military
Departure airport:	Cherry Point MCAS, NC (KNKT)
Destination airport:	Cherry Point MCAS, NC (KNKT)
Investigating agency:	NTSB
Confidence Rating:	Information verified through data from accident investigation authorities

Narrative:
On July 12, 2023, about 1400 eastern daylight time, a McDonnell Douglas A-4K, N143EM, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at Cherry Point Marine Corps Air Station (Cunningham Field) Airport (NKT), Cherry Point, North Carolina. The commercial pilot sustained serious injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 public use operation.

The public use airplane was being operated under contract to the U.S. Navy. During the takeoff run from runway 5 left, an 8,491 ft paved runway at NKT, the pilot was unable to rotate or lift off as the airplane passed rotation speed. As the airplane approached the departure end of the runway at high speed and unable to take off, the pilot activated the ejection system.

The airplane subsequently departed the paved runway surface and traveled an additional 3,000 feet through the runway overrun area. During the impact, the airplane struck several lights and a concrete footer before coming to rest. The airplane sustained impact and fire damage to the airframe and was substantially damaged.

The wreckage was retained for further examination.

https://www.witn.com/2023/07/12/civilian-pilot-ejects-after-takeoff-cherry-point/
https://www.wnct.com/local-news/civilian-pilot-ejects-from-aircraft-after-taking-off-at-cherry-point/

NTSB
https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult ?nNumberTxt=143EM

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/N143EM_Douglas_A-4K_Skyhawk_s-n_154905_Draken_International_%2832426701830%29.jpg (photo)

Note: the aircraft is registered by the FAA with it former US Navy BuNo 154905 as "c/n".

Ex Royal New Zealand AF NZ6213 (mod. to A-4K), Royal Australian Navy N13-154905/884 (A-4G), US Navy BuNo 154905

Date/time	Contributor	Updates
13-Jul-2023 07:03	gerard57	Added
13-Jul-2023 08:24	RobertMB	Updated
15-Jul-2023 21:36	Captain Adam	Updated
16-Jul-2023 14:25	NZ_PHLYER	Updated
18-Jul-2023 14:19	RobertMB	Updated
27-Jul-2023 21:37	Captain Adam	Updated
31-Aug-2023 21:51	Captain Adam	Updated