Amateur-built Kit Fox II accident near Deatville, Alabama, September 5, 2008
On September 5, 2008 at about 9:44 pm local time, a amateur-built Kit Fox II, registered N8188F, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Deatville, Alabama (Private Airstrip 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 pilot's inadequate fuel system maintenance.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 5, 2008 · about 9:44 pm local time
- Place
- Deatville, Alabama · Private Airstrip · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Kit Fox II
- Registration
- N8188F · no longer on the register · serial 378
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the amateur-built Kit Fox II had been trouble-shooting an intermittent engine problem. He completed replacing the fuel hoses from the fuel tank to the carburetors. The in-line fuel filters were not installed at that time. The pilot elected to fly to a private airstrip that was 20 minutes away. Upon his return flight from the private strip, during initial climb, the engine experienced a partial loss of power. The pilot performed a forced landing into an area of small pine trees. The postaccident examination revealed that debris was lodged in the fuel inlet port of the carburetor, preventing normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Fuel contamination during prior to flight
- Loss of engine power (partial) during initial climb defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Repair › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › (general) › Incorrect service/maintenance
- Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 580 hours in all; 500 in this make and model; 11 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 16, 2007
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 857 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 9, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 592 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Deatville AL at 9:44 pm
- Destination: O8A Wetumpka AL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 4,800 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 29.85 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from MGM
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.