Amateur-built KITFOX IV accident near Banning, California, February 6, 1994
On February 6, 1994 at about 11:26 pm local time, a amateur-built KITFOX IV, registered N92NL, was destroyed in an accident near Banning, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
1) THE PILOT'S DECISION TO FLY IN MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN AT A LOW LEVEL, AND 2) HIS FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHILE MANEUVERING TO REVERSE DIRECTION IN A BOX CANYON, WHICH RESULTED IN AN INADVERTENT STALL SPIN.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 6, 1994 · about 11:26 pm local time
- Place
- Banning, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KITFOX IV
- Registration
- N92NL · registry record · serial 1615
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
A GROUND WITNESS OBSERVED THE AIRCRAFT FLY OVER ABOUT 300 FEET ABOVE THE FLOOR OF THE GULLY IN AN UPSLOPE DIRECTION. THE ENGINE SOUNDED NORMAL. A FEW MINUTES LATER, THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOTICED ON THE GROUND ON THE SIDE OF THE GULLY. FAA INSPECTORS REPORTED THAT THE SITE IS IN A BOWL-SHAPED GULLY WITH A DIAMETER OF ABOUT 400 YARDS. THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED THE ROCKY GROUND IN A NEAR-VERTICAL DESCENT ATTITUDE BETWEEN TWO LARGE BOULDERS. EXAMINATION OF THE ENGINE REVEALED THAT THE CARBURETORS HAD BEEN ADJUSTED TO THE RICHEST POSSIBLE OPERATING CONDITION. NO OTHER SYSTEM ABNORMALITY WAS NOTED.
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: 1,667 hours in all; 13 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 51 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 30, 1993; 11 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bombardier ROTAX 582UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 5,000 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:25 pm from RIV, 25 miles away
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.