Amateur-built Kitfox IV accident near De Land, Florida, September 29, 2002
On September 29, 2002 at about 1:26 pm local time, a amateur-built Kitfox IV, registered N1441Z, was substantially damaged in an accident near De Land, Florida (De Land Municipal 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 failure of the pilot to maintain directional control of the airplane during the flare/touchdown resulting in substantial damage. A factor in the accident was the poor in-flight planning decision by the pilot for his continuing the approach in close proximity to a departing airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 29, 2002 · about 1:26 pm local time
- Place
- De Land, Florida · De Land Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Kitfox IV
- Registration
- N1441Z · no longer on the register · serial 1441
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that after returning to the departure airport, he entered the traffic pattern for runway 30 (announcing all positions), and noticed a Cessna 172 taxied onto the approach end of runway 30. He continued the downwind leg, turned base, and observed the Cessna 172 was still on the runway. He turned final approach and observed that the Cessna 172 was starting the takeoff roll. He slowed the airplane, and later reported there was a slight crosswind from the right. He touched down first on the right main landing gear, and reported experiencing a blast of air from the right. The airplane then bounced and weather vaned to the right. He then overcorrected with aileron input causing the left wingtip to contact the runway. The airplane departed the left side of the runway and came to rest heading 030 degrees; the right main landing gear was collapsed and the left main landing gear was separated. The pilot reported there was no mechanical failure or malfunction. Examination of the airplane by an FAA inspector revealed that the right wingtip contacted the runway. Additionally, the pilot reported to the FAA inspector that he should have performed a go-around rather than be in close proximity to the departing Cessna 172 airplane at the point of touchdown.
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: 446 hours in all; 161 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 11 in the last 30 days; 352 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: August 10, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 160 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2002; 30 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KDED De Land FL at 12:45 pm
- Destination: KDED
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 30, 6,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 1,600 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from KDAB, 14 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.