Amateur-built KITFOX 4 accident near Baraboo, Wisconsin, April 15, 2010
On April 15, 2010 at about 10:45 pm local time, a amateur-built KITFOX 4, registered N421KF, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern base) near Baraboo, Wisconsin (Baraboo/Wisconsin Dells Airpor airport). 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
The pilot's failure to compensate for wind gusts and maintain sufficient airspeed, which resulted in a stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 15, 2010 · about 10:45 pm local time
- Place
- Baraboo, Wisconsin · Baraboo/Wisconsin Dells Airpor · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KITFOX 4
- Registration
- N421KF · no longer on the register · serial 1421
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was diverting from the planned destination due to inclement weather along his route of flight. The pilot reported that during the approach to land, the airplane encountered wind gusts which resulted in the airplane stalling. The reported wind at the airport around the time of the accident indicated wind gusts from 13 to 23 knots.
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
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR pattern base) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › (general) › (general) › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 815 hours in all; 733 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 773 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 13, 2008
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 733 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 12, 2009
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL) (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C77 Poplar Grove IL
- Destination: Stevens Point WI
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 2,708 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 13 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 10,000 ft; scat at 7,000 ft
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 10:34 pm from DLL
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.
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.