Amateur-built KITFOX accident near Longmont, Colorado, April 23, 1994
On April 23, 1994 at about 5:35 pm local time, a amateur-built KITFOX, registered N446GS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Longmont, Colorado (Vance Brand Municipal 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
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 23, 1994 · about 5:35 pm local time
- Place
- Longmont, Colorado · Vance Brand Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KITFOX
- Registration
- N446GS · no longer on the register · serial 446
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE BEGAN TO VEER TO THE RIGHT DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL, AND FULL LEFT RUDDER INPUT HAD NO EFFECT. THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED THE RUNWAY, CROSSED AN IRRIGATION DITCH, THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR COLLAPSED, AND THE AIRPLANE NOSED OVER. ACCORDING TO A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION INSPECTOR WHO WITNESSED THE ACCIDENT, THE WINDS WERE LIGHT AND VARIABLE.
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: 120 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 4 in the last 90 days; 45 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 18 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 13, 1994; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax LC532 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 11, 5,130 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 100° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 75 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 34°F (1°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 4:45 pm from BJC, 15 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.