Amateur-built KITFOX 1200 IV accident near Lowell, Indiana, July 13, 2000
On July 13, 2000 at about 10:00 pm local time, a amateur-built KITFOX 1200 IV, registered N456RC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lowell, Indiana (Lowell 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 incapacitation of the pilot. Factors to the accident were the failure of the pilot to maintain flying speed and the subsequent stall.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 13, 2000 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lowell, Indiana · Lowell Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KITFOX 1200 IV KITFOX 120
- Registration
- N456RC · registry record · serial 1472
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The aircraft departed runway 18. A witness stated that the aircraft departed at a minimum speed and then leveled off at about 100 feet. The witness reported that the aircraft then started to climb at an excessive angle of attack of about 45-50 degrees. The aircraft then entered a left bank of about 10 degrees, followed by a further increase in the bank angle to about 30 degrees. The aircraft stalled and impacted the ground. A blood alcohol test was performed during medical checks performed at a hospital. The blood alcohol level was .159%. Federal Aviation Regulations do not permit anyone to act as a pilot with a blood alcohol level greater that .04%.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine
- Flight time: 2,310 hours in all; 60 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 2,200 as pilot in command; 1,500 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 60 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 2, 2000; 4 hours since
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582LC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: C97 at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 18, 3,050 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 6,000 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:45 pm from CGX, 38 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.