Amateur-built KIT FOX MODEL 4 accident near Bowdoinham, Maine, September 8, 1993
On September 8, 1993 at about 6:00 pm local time, a amateur-built KIT FOX MODEL 4, registered N193CW, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bowdoinham, Maine (Merrymeeting Field). 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
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 8, 1993 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Bowdoinham, Maine · Merrymeeting Field
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KIT FOX MODEL 4 KIT FOX MO
- Registration
- N193CW · no longer on the register · serial 1572
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF, THE AIRPLANE'S ENGINE LOST TOTAL POWER. THE PILOT TURNED BACK TOWARD THE RUNWAY, BUT DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH ALTITUDE TO CLEAR TREES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE AIRPLANE IMPACTED THE TREES AND CAME TO REST IN THE TREE TOPS ABOUT 50 FEET ABOVE THE GROUND. POST-ACCIDENT EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE DID NOT REVEAL ANY ANOMALIES. FUEL WAS FOUND IN THE FUEL TANKS AND FUEL LINES LEADING TO THE ENGINE. THE ENGINE WAS RUN AND A FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE HAD LOST TOTAL POWER ON THE PREVIOUS FLIGHT. HE STATED THAT HE THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS IN THE AIRPLANE'S ELECTRONICS, SPECIFICALLY, THE ENGINE'S DOUBLE COIL. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE CHECKED THE AIRPLANE'S ELECTRONICS AND A FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED.
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: 152 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 3 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 152 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 15 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 6, 1993; 15 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 1,948 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from LEW, 10 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.