Amateur-built KITFOX MODEL 1 accident near Waynesville, Ohio, August 26, 2000
On August 26, 2000 at about 5:38 pm local time, a amateur-built KITFOX MODEL 1, registered N37SK, was substantially damaged in an accident near Waynesville, Ohio (Air Jordan Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A broken carburetor jet needle, which blocked fuel from entering the carburetor's mixing tube and resulted in a partial loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 26, 2000 · about 5:38 pm local time
- Place
- Waynesville, Ohio · Air Jordan Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KITFOX MODEL 1 KITFOX MOD
- Registration
- N37SK · registry record · serial 94
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
Shortly after take-off, a partial loss of engine power occurred, and the pilot was unable to maintain altitude. The airplane collided with trees and a fence before coming rest on the ground. Examination of the two-cycle Rotax engine and the forward Bing carburetor revealed that the jet needle had broken and was blocking the mixing tube. Two Rotax service information documents addressed the wearing of the jet needle, due to the needle clip rotating from vibrations. One document called for an immediate check of the jet needle and needle clip for wear, followed by a 50-hour check thereafter. The second notification stated that the jet needle should be replaced every 150 hours. A Bing service alert stated that if an o-ring had not been installed, the needle clip should be inspected every 10 hours for signs of wear. The pilot was not aware that an o-ring would prevent wear on the jet needle until after the accident. The pilot reported the engine had a total of 417 hours, and the jet needles and clips were replaced at the 200-hour inspection. The pilot also stated that the components were checked for wear 36 hours prior to the accident.
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: 520 hours in all; 417 in this make and model; 17 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 480 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 3, 1998
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 417 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 4, 1999; 36 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 850 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 532 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE at 6:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 01, 1,400 ft by 90 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 260° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 15,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:51 pm from DAY, 20 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.