Amateur-built KITFOX accident near Spruce Pine, North Carolina, June 9, 2000
On June 9, 2000 at about 2:30 pm local time, a amateur-built KITFOX, registered N715DZ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Spruce Pine, North Carolina. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A total loss of engine power due to carburetor icing conditions. A factor was the mountainous, unsuitable terrain on which to make a forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 9, 2000 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Spruce Pine, North Carolina · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KITFOX
- Registration
- N715DZ · no longer on the register · serial 351
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was planning to fly to another airport located 13.5 nm to the south of the departure airport for the purpose of having an annual maintenance inspection performed on the airplane. While 3 miles south of the departure airport in cruise flight at 1,000 ft. agl, the airplane's engine gradually lost power. The airplane collided with trees in a heavily wooded area, descended approximately 80 feet to the ground, then nosed over. The last annual inspection on the airframe and the engine was performed on January 1, 1997, and the airplane had flown five hours since the last inspection was performed. An on-scene examination of the airframe and engine by an FAA inspector revealed no mechanical discrepancies, and evidence of fuel was found at the accident site. Weather conditions at the time were favorable for the formation of carburetor ice.
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: 308 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 258 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 175 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 1, 1997; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 BOMBADIER (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7A8 NC at 2:15 pm
- Destination: 9A9 Marion NC
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 2:20 pm from MRN, 20 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.