Amateur-built KITFOX CLASSIC IV accident near Waupaca, Wisconsin, June 5, 2025
On June 5, 2025 at about 4:55 pm local time, a 2012 amateur-built KITFOX CLASSIC IV, registered N755SD, was substantially damaged in an accident during approach (VFR pattern final) near Waupaca, Wisconsin (Waupaca Municipal airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate air speed during final approach, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall and impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 5, 2025 · about 4:55 pm local time
- Place
- Waupaca, Wisconsin · Waupaca Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KITFOX CLASSIC IV, built 2012
- Registration
- N755SD · registry record · serial C04050295
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the final approach for landing he made engine power adjustments to correct the airplane’s altitude, and the airplane slowed too much near the runway threshold. The pilot added power, but the airplane stalled above the runway threshold, the nose dropped, the nose wheel impacted the runway, and the airplane flipped over into an inverted position. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wing, fuselage, and vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Attempted remediation/recovery during approach (VFR pattern final)
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR pattern final) defining event
- Miscellaneous/other during approach (VFR pattern final)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 630 hours in all; 377 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 570 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 2, 2023
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 377 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 15, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Jabiru 2200 (piston); 377 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 10, 1,600 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 110° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observation at 11:55 am from KPCZ
Weather report (METAR): KPCZ 051655Z AUTO 11006KT 10SM CLR 26/06 A3011 RMK AO2 T02610056
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 4 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – N755SD left side
Photograph 2 – N755SD right side
Photograph 3 – N755SD propeller & lower engine cowling
Photograph 4 – N755SD nose landing gear / belly damageThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 23, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.