Amateur-built Kitfox Classic IV accident near Bagley, Minnesota, July 16, 2005
On July 16, 2005 at about 3:05 pm local time, a amateur-built Kitfox Classic IV, registered N6261M, was substantially damaged in an accident near Bagley, Minnesota (Bagley Municipal Airport). It was an instructional 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 pilot's inadvertent lift-off and failure to maintain adequate airspeed while recovering from a loss of directional control during landing. Contributing factors to the accident were the pilot's inadequate wind compensation and failure to maintain aircraft directional control during landing. An additional factor was the flight instructor's inadequate remedial action during the landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 2005 · about 3:05 pm local time
- Place
- Bagley, Minnesota · Bagley Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Kitfox Classic IV
- Registration
- N6261M · no longer on the register · serial C94060033
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The tailwheel airplane veered off the runway during landing, became airborne again and subsequently stalled and impacted the terrain. The purpose of the flight was for the pilot/owner to receive a flight review and dual instruction in his recently purchased airplane. The pilot stated that after touchdown on runway 14 the airplane "started to weathervane to the left." He reported that he used engine power and right rudder in an attempt to realign the airplane with the runway, but the airplane "veered quickly to the right and became airborne." He stated that when he initiated a "shallow turn" to avoid some trees off the right side of the runway the airplane "stalled and impacted the ground." The prevailing surface wind was from the east-southeast around 10 knots, with no gusts reported. The pilot reported that during the previous landing there was "some crosswind from the left" but it was "controllable."
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 13,368 hours in all; 3 in this make and model; 76 in the last 90 days; 18 in the last 30 days; 13,214 as pilot in command; 2,037 on instruments
- Last flight review: July 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rear
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 762 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 0 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 606 as pilot in command; 180 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 76 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 1, 2005; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru EA-81 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 7Y4 Bagley MN at 2:20 pm
- Destination: 7Y4 Bagley MN
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 3,800 ft by 75 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 2:55 pm from FSE, 17 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.