Amateur-built Kitfox Speedster accident near Sterling, Massachusetts, November 27, 2004
On November 27, 2004 at about 7:20 pm local time, a amateur-built Kitfox Speedster, registered N124KF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Sterling, Massachusetts (Sterling 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 inadequate fuel consumption calculations, which resulted in fuel exhaustion and a total 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
- November 27, 2004 · about 7:20 pm local time
- Place
- Sterling, Massachusetts · Sterling Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Kitfox Speedster
- Registration
- N124KF · no longer on the register · serial HCS124
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While approaching the destination airport, the homebuilt airplane's Rotax engine began to sputter and then stopped completely. The pilot attempted to glide the airplane to the runway, but due to the descent rate, he elected to land in trees 100 feet short of it. Examination of the fuel tanks revealed that no fuel was present. The airplane was equipped with two 13-gallon fuel tanks and a 0.9-gallon header tank. Prior to his initial departure, the pilot estimated that the left fuel tank was 3/8 full and the right fuel tank was 1/4 full. He subsequently flew the airplane on two 45-minute flights before the engine stopped, and estimated the total engine running time to be 2 hours plus. He also estimated the fuel consumption rate of the engine to be about 3.7 to 4 gallons per hour based on fuel consumption calculations from previous flights. The airplane kit manufacturer stated that the engine consumed about 4.5 gallons of fuel per hour at a cruise power setting, and about 6 gallons of fuel per hour at a high power setting.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 16,455 hours in all; 381 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 11,913 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 21, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 381 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2004; 48 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: EEN Keene NH
- Destination: 3B3 Sterling MA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 7,500 ft; ovct at 7,500 ft
- Temperature: 46°F (8°C), dew point 27°F (-3°C)
- Altimeter: 30.37 inHg
- Observation at 6:52 pm from FIT, 8 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.