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Accidents · NTSB MIA89LA114 · Final report

Amateur-built KIT FOX accident near Purvis, Mississippi, March 25, 1989

On March 25, 1989 at about 11:30 pm local time, a amateur-built KIT FOX, registered N70396, was substantially damaged in an accident near Purvis, Mississippi. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

FAILURE OF THE ENGINE'S REAR PISTON. FACTORS RELATED TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE PILOT'S LACK OF ALTITUDE FOR A FORCED LANDING AND TREES IN THE EMERGENCY LANDING AREA.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
March 25, 1989 · about 11:30 pm local time · cases in 1989
Place
Purvis, Mississippi · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
1 person had minor injuries.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Amateur-built KIT FOX
Registration
N70396 · registry record · serial 266
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

THE PLT HAD FLOWN THE HOMEBUILT ACFT ABOUT 6 HRS SINCE CONSTRUCTION WAS COMPLETED. HE STATED HE WAS FLYING NEAR A FRIEND'S HOUSE AT ABOUT 100 FT & PULLED UP INTO A CLIMB TO RETURN HOME. WHILE PASSING THRU ABOUT 200 FT, THE ENG 'CHOKED' & HE MADE A 180 DEG TURN TO LAND IN A FIELD. JUST BEFORE LANDING, THE RGT WING STRUCK A TREE & THE ACFT CRASHED. AN EXAM OF THE ENG REVEALED THE REAR PISTON HAD FAILED FOR AN UNDETERMINED REASON.

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: 900 hours in all; 6 in this make and model
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
  • Seat: left

The aircraft

  • Airframe total time: 6 hours
  • Last inspection: annual inspection, December 1, 1988; 6 hours since
  • Maximum gross weight: 900 lb
  • Seats: 2
  • Landing gear: fixed
  • Engine: Rotax 532 (piston); 0 hours total

The flight

  • Flight plan: none
  • Runway 0

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 180° at 5 knots
  • Visibility: 3 statute miles
  • Sky: overcast at 25,000 ft; not recorded
  • Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 57°F (14°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
  • Observation at 11:51 pm from MCB, 56 miles away

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Crew1

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.

Connections how this case links to the rest of the register

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The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/MIA89LA114.json.

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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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.