Amateur-built KITFOX accident near Chilton, Texas, October 27, 2025
On October 27, 2025 at about 10:30 am local time, a 2006 amateur-built KITFOX, registered N5241N, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Chilton, Texas. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 27, 2025 · about 10:30 am local time
- Place
- Chilton, Texas · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KITFOX III, built 2006
- Registration
- N5241N · no longer on the register · serial 1172
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On October 27, 2025, about 0530 central daylight time, a Denney Kitfox III airplane, N5241N, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Chilton, Texas. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight departed from the Easterwood Field Airport (KCLL), College Station, Texas, about 0445 and was en route to the McGregor Executive Airport (KPWG), Waco, Texas. About 20 nautical miles from KPWG, the engine briefly sputtered. The pilot verified all switches and fuel selectors were in the proper positions. The engine began to violently shudder, and engine power began to degrade. The pilot pitched for best glide and flew towards a nearby airfield. Shortly after, the engine completely lost power, and the pilot set up for a forced landing to a field. Avoiding a power line pole, the airplane touched down hard in a field. Due to an unseen fence line, the pilot applied the wheel brake hard to nose the airplane over and avoid a collision with the fence. The airplane nose over and came to rest inverted. Substantial damage was sustained to the fuselage and wings. The airplane was retained for further examination.
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 (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during emergency descent
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 477.4 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, February 24, 2025; 108 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
The flight
- Departed from: KCLL College Station TX at 9:45 am
- Destination: KPWG Waco TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 120° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 am from KPWG, 20 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KPWG 271056Z AUTO 12004KT 9SM CLR 16/16 A2993 RMK AO2 SLP131 T01560156=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.