Amateur-built KITFOX IV accident near Pasadena, Maryland, November 20, 1995
On November 20, 1995 at about 7:00 pm local time, a amateur-built KITFOX IV, registered N86548, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pasadena, Maryland (Mountain Road 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 (ABRUPT) APPLICATION OF BRAKES DURING THE LANDING ROLL. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCICENT WERE: THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO ATTAIN THE PROPER TOUCHDOWN POINT DURING THE LANDING, AND HIS LACK OF EXPERIENCE IN THE MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRPLANE.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 20, 1995 · about 7:00 pm local time
- Place
- Pasadena, Maryland · Mountain Road Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KITFOX IV
- Registration
- N86548 · no longer on the register · serial 1810
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE WAS HIGH ON HIS FIRST APPROACH TO THE 1,700 FOOT LONG GRASS RUNWAY, SO HE PERFORMED A GO-AROUND. HE REPORTED THAT THE SECOND ATTEMPT WAS GOOD, BUT DURING THE LANDING FLARE, THE AIRPLANE FLOATED, AND TOUCHED DOWN ABOUT MIDFIELD ON THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT STATED '...I APPLIED BRAKES, BEING MINDFUL OF THE TREES AT THE END OF THE RUNWAY...THE PLANE NOSED OVER AND FLIPPED ON ITS BACK.' ALSO, THE PILOT REPORTED 21.9 HOURS OF FLIGHT TIME IN THIS MAKE AND MODEL OF AIRPLANE, OF WHICH ONLY ABOUT 1 HOUR WAS AS PILOT-IN-COMMAND.
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: 139 hours in all; 22 in this make and model; 22 in the last 90 days; 22 in the last 30 days; 71 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bombardier 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ESN Easton MD at 6:40 pm
- Destination: MD43
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 21, 1,700 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 48°F (9°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.