Amateur-built KITFOX II accident near Shelburne, Vermont, July 24, 1992
On July 24, 1992 at about 8:00 pm local time, a amateur-built KITFOX II (ultralight), registered N376GC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Shelburne, Vermont (Shelburne Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL. CONTRIBUTING WAS THE PILOT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION TO AN OPEN DOOR, AND AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 24, 1992 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Shelburne, Vermont · Shelburne Airpark
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KITFOX II
- Registration
- N376GC · registry record · serial 376
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THIS WAS THE PILOT'S FIRST FLIGHT SINCE HE BUILT THE AIRPLANE. ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE WAS GOING TO STAY IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN TO PRACTICE TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS; HOWEVER, DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB THE LEFT DOOR ' POPPED OPEN,' AND THE PILOT BECAME DISTRACTED MOMENTARILY. HE STATED THAT THE FLIGHT HAD CLIMBED TO ABOUT 75 TO 100 FEET, AND HE REDUCED THE POWER TO TRY TO LAND ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY, BUT THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY IN THE PATH OF TREES. HE STATED THAT HE TRIED TO AVOID THE TREE TOPS BY PULLING BACK ON THE YOKE, BUT THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND CAME TO REST BETWEEN TWO TREES. THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION, AND THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF HE HAD INSTALLED A POSITIVE LATCHING MECHANISM ON THE DOOR.
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: 96 hours in all; 9 in the last 90 days; 28 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, January 2, 2000; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582LC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 2,500 ft by 90 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 7:45 pm from BTV, 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.