Amateur-built Kitfox IV 1200 accident near Immokalee, Florida, August 6, 2005
On August 6, 2005 at about 1:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Kitfox IV 1200, registered N86FX, was substantially damaged in an accident near Immokalee, Florida (Immokalee airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to detect standing water on the grass strip resulting in a nose over during the landing roll.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 6, 2005 · about 1:30 pm local time
- Place
- Immokalee, Florida · Immokalee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Kitfox IV 1200
- Registration
- N86FX · no longer on the register · serial 1765
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated it was clear weather with no wind but he knew there had been severe rain the night before. Knowing this, he decided to circle the field to check for water before landing. He had previously landed on the grass strip before and elected to land on the grass extension of runway 36. The touchdown was normal. At about 20 miles per hour and 100 feet into the landing roll, the airplane contacted standing water causing the airplane to nose over. The representative from the Collier County Sheriff's office who responded to the accident via helicopter stated that on departure from Immokalee, he noted a large amount of standing water on the approach end of runway 36.The pilot stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident.
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: 11,000 hours in all; 1,200 in this make and model; 36 in the last 90 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bombardier Rotax 912 UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: X14 La Belle FL at 1:15 pm
- Destination: IMM Immokalee FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 36, 5,000 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 0 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from RSW, 19 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.