Amateur-built KITFOX accident near Mcleansboro, Illinois, May 22, 2015
On May 22, 2015 at about 11:15 pm local time, a 1990 amateur-built KITFOX, registered N4100T, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Mcleansboro, Illinois. 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 attitude control during the landing roll. A contributing factor was the pilot's lack of training and experience in this 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
- May 22, 2015 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Mcleansboro, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KITFOX II, built 1990
- Registration
- N4100T · no longer on the register · serial 720
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during the three point landing roll he failed to hold the stick all the way back, applied the brakes, and the airplane nosed down. The pilot stated the, "forward momentum caused him to apply the brakes harder." He further stated this was his first flight in this airplane make and model, and that he had not received any training in the airplane. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer and rudder. The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll) defining event
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 › Pitch control › Not attained/maintained
- factor Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge › Experience/qualifications › Total experience w/ equipment › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 125.9 hours in all; 0.2 in this make and model; 6 in the last 90 days; 5.5 in the last 30 days; 88 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 24, 2013
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 402.8 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 13, 2014
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bombardier/Rotax 582UL (piston); 403 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Mcleansboro IL at 11:00 pm
- Destination: Mcleansboro IL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.26 inHg
- Observation at 11:15 pm from 3LL8, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 22, 2015. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record GAA15CA087 (Pilot) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Photograph 1 – View of Substantial Damage to Vertical Stabilizer and Rudder (Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.