Amateur-built KITFOX 1 accident near Valdez, Alaska, February 12, 1992
On February 12, 1992 at about 6:15 pm local time, a amateur-built KITFOX 1, registered N5154U, was substantially damaged in an accident near Valdez, Alaska (Valdez airport). 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 IMPROPER USE OF THE AIRPLANE'S BRAKES. FACTORS WHICH CONTRIBUTED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE THE ICY RUNWAY CONDITION AND THE PILOT'S LACK OF TOTAL EXPERIENCE WITH THIS TYPE OF OPERATION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 12, 1992 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Valdez, Alaska · Valdez · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KITFOX 1
- Registration
- N5154U · registry record · serial 21
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING THE LANDING ROLL, HE APPLIED THE BRAKES WHILE ON A PATCH OF ICE CAUSING THE WHEELS TO LOCK UP. WHEN THE AIRPLANE WENT OFF THE ICY AREA AND ONTO A DRY PART OF THE RUNWAY, THE WHEELS REMAINED LOCKED CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO NOSE OVER. THE CONDITION OF THE RUNWAY AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS MENTIONED IN NOTAM DELTA #02/026.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 51 hours in all; 4 in this make and model; 18 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 89 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 2, 2000; 3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 532UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 24, 6,500 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 8,000 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 23°F (-5°C), dew point 16°F (-9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 6:41 pm from VDZ, 1 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.