Amateur-built KITFOX III accident near Greeley, Colorado, March 4, 1995
On March 4, 1995 at about 6:15 pm local time, a amateur-built KITFOX III, registered N951BW, was destroyed in an accident near Greeley, Colorado (Greeley-Weld County airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S INADEQUATE COMPENSATION FOR WIND CONDITIONS. A FACTOR WAS A SUDDEN WIND SHIFT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 4, 1995 · about 6:15 pm local time
- Place
- Greeley, Colorado · Greeley-Weld County · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KITFOX III
- Registration
- N951BW · registry record · serial 951
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT TOOK OFF AND REMAINED IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN. THE LANDING APPROACH WAS NORMAL AND THE TOUCH DOWN WAS ON THE RUNWAY CENTERLINE BUT, ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, THE AIRPLANE BOUNCED DUE TO A REAR QUARTERING TAILWIND SHEAR. THE PILOT SAID HE APPLIED FULL POWER IN AN ATTEMPT TO ABORT THE LANDING, BUT THE WIND FORCED THE AIRPLANE INTO THE SIDE OF A HANGAR.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 651 hours in all; 63 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 523 as pilot in command; 76 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 125 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 9, 1994; 9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GXY at 6:00 pm
- Destination: GXY CO
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 9, 6,200 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 15 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,600 ft
- Temperature: 43°F (6°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:15 am from GXY
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.