Amateur-built KITFOX 5 accident near Owenton, Kentucky, June 12, 2012
On June 12, 2012 at about 3:30 pm local time, a amateur-built KITFOX 5, registered N903XC, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Owenton, Kentucky (Owen Air Park airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to attain the proper airspeed during takeoff, and the flight instructor's delayed remedial action, which resulted in a loss of airplane control. Contributing to the accident was the flight instructor's lack of previous experience in the airplane make and model.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 12, 2012 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Owenton, Kentucky · Owen Air Park · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KITFOX 5
- Registration
- N903XC · no longer on the register · serial 10903
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot, who was the owner of the tail-wheel-equipped airplane, was on an instructional flight to obtain a tailwheel endorsement. The pilot reported that the airplane experienced a sudden gust of wind just after liftoff and that he overcorrected, which caused the airplane to stall and settle back onto the runway. The flight instructor reported that the pilot abruptly pulled back on the control stick when the airplane accelerated to 50 to 55 mph during the takeoff roll. The airplane climbed about 5 feet above the ground and stalled. He assumed control of the airplane; however, it departed the left side of the runway and sustained substantial damage to the firewall and fuselage before it came to rest. After the accident, both pilots reported that the airplane did not experience any mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported 372 hours of total flight experience, which included 12 hours in the accident airplane during the 30 days preceding the accident. He further reported that the airplane's takeoff speed should have been 65 mph. The flight instructor had no previous flight experience in the airplane make and model. If he had experience in the airplane make and model, he would have been more familiar with its flying characteristics and been able to anticipate and correct the problem earlier.
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 takeoff defining event
- Runway excursion during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience w/ equipment › Instructor/check pilot
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 10,500 hours in all; 0 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 25, 2012
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 372 hours in all; 14 in this make and model; 14 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: June 10, 2011
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 191 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 17, 2011
- Maximum gross weight: 1,550 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Franklin O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 0KY0 Owenton KY at 3:30 pm
- Destination: 0KY0 Owenton KY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 2,300 ft by 80 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 290° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,600 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 2:52 pm from CVG, 26 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 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.