Amateur-built KITFOX II accident near Fairbanks, Alaska, September 11, 2010
On September 11, 2010 at about 1:00 am local time, a amateur-built KITFOX II, registered N598AL, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Fairbanks, Alaska (Metro Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain proper aircraft control during landing and the subsequent go-around, resulting in a hard landing, and a collision with a signpost.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 11, 2010 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Fairbanks, Alaska · Metro Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KITFOX II
- Registration
- N598AL · registry record · serial 598
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private pilot was on a personal local flight, operating under Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The pilot reported that during landing, the airplane landed hard, and bounced back into the air. He said he added power to go around, but the airplane drifted left of the runway, and the right wing struck a signpost. He said the airplane spun around the post, and impacted the ground. The pilot said there were no preimpact mechanical problems with the airplane, and that the airplane sustained substantial damage to its right wing.
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
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent rate › Not attained/maintained
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 74 hours in all; 6 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 16 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 12, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 340 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 8, 2010
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL) (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: MTF Fairbanks AK
- Destination: MTF Fairbanks AK
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 06, 4,600 ft by 30 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from FAI
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket 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.