Amateur-built KIT FOX SE accident near La Porte, Texas, June 2, 2008
On June 2, 2008 at about 7:12 pm local time, a amateur-built KIT FOX SE, registered N40120, was destroyed in an accident during approach (VFR pattern crosswind) near La Porte, Texas (La Porte Municipal Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and uncontrolled descent.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 2, 2008 · about 7:12 pm local time
- Place
- La Porte, Texas · La Porte Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KIT FOX SE
- Registration
- N40120 · no longer on the register · serial S9909-0215
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was flying the experimental homebuilt airplane with a potential buyer for the airplane who was a pilot-rated passenger. The pilot had flown the airplane 45 minutes the morning of the accident, but had not flown the airplane for the year preceding the accident. The pilot-rated passenger had no experience in the airplane. After 10 to 15 minutes of flight, witnesses observed the airplane making a climbing left turn about 1,000 feet in the air when the airplane suddenly nosed over near vertical, consistent with an aerodynamic stall. The airplane impacted an open field at a near 45-degree angle and burned in a postimpact fire. Examination of the aircraft did not reveal any preimpact anomalies.
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 control in flight during approach (VFR pattern crosswind) defining event
- Aerodynamic stall/spin during approach (VFR pattern crosswind)
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine sea; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Last flight review: May 26, 2006
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: fatal
Co-pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 94 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 147 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 17, 2006
- Maximum gross weight: 1,711 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Ama/Expr UNKNOWN ENG (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: T41 La Porte TX at 6:55 pm
- Destination: T41
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Wind: from 180° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 45 ft
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.
Other NTSB records under N40120 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.