Amateur-built Kitfox II accident near Seguin, Texas, October 27, 2010
On October 27, 2010 at about 9:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Kitfox II, registered N8700T, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Seguin, Texas (Elm Creek Airpark airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to ensure adequate fuel on board and subsequent failure to maintain airplane control following an engine failure due to fuel exhaustion.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 2010 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Seguin, Texas · Elm Creek Airpark · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Kitfox II
- Registration
- N8700T · no longer on the register · serial 285
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Witnesses observed the airplane climb after takeoff. While still at a low altitude, the airplane was seen to bank to the right, enter a spin, and impact the ground in a near vertical attitude. Witnesses who responded to the scene reported smelling fuel but did not see any fuel dripping from the wreckage. The fuel lines, fuel filter, and fuel bowl were examined and no fuel was found. The lack of fuel combined with no evidence of propeller rotation during impact is consistent with a loss of engine power due to fuel exhaustion.
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
- Fuel exhaustion during initial climb defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during initial climb
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during initial climb
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Fuel planning › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 2,200 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 605 hours
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0TX6 Seguine TX at 9:00 pm
- Destination: 0TX6 Seguine TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.87 inHg
- Observation at 8:51 pm from KBAZ
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.