Amateur-built KITFOX accident near Chester, Connecticut, June 19, 1994
On June 19, 1994 at about 2:55 pm local time, a amateur-built KITFOX, registered N528AB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Chester, Connecticut (Chester 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 fracture of the tailwheel assembly for undetermined reasons during the takeoff roll, and the subsequent loss of directional control and collision with a hangar.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 19, 1994 · about 2:55 pm local time
- Place
- Chester, Connecticut · Chester
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KITFOX
- Registration
- N528AB · no longer on the register · serial 528
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During the takeoff roll, the tailwheel lifted off and settled back onto the runway. This happened a second time, and then the airplane veered to the right and collided with a hangar. Postaccident examination revealed the tailwheel assembly was fractured; however, it could not be determined if it was fractured prior to impact or as a result of overload when the main gear collapsed. The FAA Inspector stated: '...[The pilot] stated he felt the aircraft was airborne. His best recollection of the airspeed was about 20 knots. [The pilot] said the book calls for about 27 knots at rotation... .'
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; single-engine sea; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 438 hours in all; 438 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, June 19, 1994; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582LC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3B9
- Flight plan: not recorded
- Runway 35, 2,566 ft by 50 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 230° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:45 pm from GON
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.