Amateur-built KITFOX 1 accident near Grundy Center, Iowa, August 8, 1990
On August 8, 1990, a amateur-built KITFOX 1, registered N790WC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Grundy Center, Iowa (Pvt airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
GO-AROUND DELAYED BY THE PILOT IN COMMAND.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 8, 1990
- Place
- Grundy Center, Iowa · Pvt · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KITFOX 1
- Registration
- N790WC · no longer on the register · serial 98
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PVT PILOT OF THE HOMEBUILT ACFT SAID THAT HE HAD TOO MUCH AIRSPEED ON FINAL APPROACH AND DECIDED TO MAKE A GO-AROUND. HE SAID THAT HE MADE A LATE DECISION AND WAS UNABLE TO CLEAR OBSTACLES AT THE END OF THE PRIVATE STRIP. THE ACFT COLLIDED WITH A GATE, THEN CAREENED INTO A CORN FIELD. THE LEFT LANDING GEAR AND WING SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 650 hours in all; 43 in this make and model; 43 in the last 90 days; 15 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 532 L.C. (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0, 1,400 ft by 66 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 2 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.