Wing Kitfox II accident near Park Rapids, Minnesota, August 2, 2010
On August 2, 2010 at about 10:30 pm local time, a Wing Kitfox II, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N389HW, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Park Rapids, Minnesota (Petit Lake 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
A partial loss of engine power for undetermined reasons and the pilot's failure to adequately flare during the water landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 2, 2010 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Park Rapids, Minnesota · Petit Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Wing Kitfox II, amateur-built
- Registration
- N389HW · no longer on the register · serial 389
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot noted a partial loss of engine power in the float-equipped airplane. His corrective actions did not restore full engine power and the airplane was unable to maintain altitude. He reduced engine power to flight idle and entered a rapid descent to a nearby lake. He noted that the engine continued to operate while in the flight idle position. Due to the size constraints of the lake, the landing was firm and that the airplane nosed over shortly after touchdown. The fuselage primary structure, left horizontal stabilizer, right float and support structure, and left wing spar were substantially damaged during the accident. A postaccident examination confirmed flight control continuity between the cockpit controls and the individual flight control surfaces. Fuel system continuity was established between the fuel control and carburetor. The examination did not reveal any evidence of a mechanical malfunction.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Hard landing during landing (flare/touchdown)
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine (reciprocating) › (general) › Malfunction
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Wheel/ski/float › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 14,000 hours in all; 5 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 6,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 9, 2009
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 152 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 1, 2010; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bombardier Rotax 532 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Park Rapids MN at 10:00 pm
- Destination: Park Rapids MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 66°F (19°C)
- Altimeter: 29.86 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from KPKD, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N389HW the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.