Amateur-built KITFOX IV 1200 accident near Weed, California, August 6, 1995
On August 6, 1995 at about 6:30 pm local time, a amateur-built KITFOX IV 1200, registered N38HM, was substantially damaged in an accident near Weed, California (Weed airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's delayed application of sufficient power to arrest a high sink rate, which resulted in a hard landing. Factors in the accident were the pilot's lack of recent flight experience and the flight instructor's inadequate supervision of the flight.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 1995 · about 6:30 pm local time
- Place
- Weed, California · Weed · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KITFOX IV 1200 KITFOX IV
- Registration
- N38HM · registry record · serial 1882
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT OWNER/BUILDER HAD NOT FLOWN SINCE 1988, PENDING RESOLUTION OF A MEDICAL CERTIFICATION PROBLEM. THE PILOT'S MEDICAL WAS RECENTLY REINSTATED AND HE WAS OBTAINING DUAL INSTRUCTION TO COMPLETE A BIENNIAL FLIGHT REVIEW. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THIS WAS THE SECOND INSTRUCTIONAL FLIGHT OF THE MORNING WITH HIS FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR, AND HAD COMPLETED SIX FULL STOP LANDINGS. DURING THE LAST APPROACH, THE AIRCRAFT DEVELOPED A HIGH SINK RATE ON SHORT FINAL AND THE PILOT SAID HE ADDED A LITTLE POWER, WHICH DID NOT ARREST THE SINK. THE PILOT THEN ADDED FULL POWER. THE HIGH SINK RATE WAS NOT CORRECTED AND THE AIRCRAFT LANDED HARD ON THE RUNWAY, COLLAPSING THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR. THE AIRCRAFT THEN GROUND LOOPED OFF THE RUNWAY.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 6, 1994; 5 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 1O6 at 5:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 32, 5,000 ft by 60 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 25 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 86°F (30°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
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.