Amateur-built KITFOX accident near Vero Beach, Florida, July 28, 1992
On July 28, 1992 at about 11:00 pm local time, a amateur-built KITFOX, registered N70629, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vero Beach, Florida. 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
FAILURE OF THE ENGINE DUE TO FUEL CONTAMINATION RESULTING IN A FORCED LANDING IN A GROVE AT WHICH TIME THE AIRCRAFT STRUCK TREES.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 28, 1992 · about 11:00 pm local time
- Place
- Vero Beach, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KITFOX
- Registration
- N70629 · no longer on the register · serial 69
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
PILOT STATED ENGINE QUIT WHILE MAKING A RIGHT DOWNWIND DEPARTURE. A FORCED LANDING WAS MADE IN A GROVE OF TREES AND THE LEFT WING STRUCK A TREE DURING ROLLOUT. AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE ENGINE WAS STARTED IN THE PRESENCE OF AN FAA INSPECTOR. THE ENGINE RAN ROUGH FOR A FEW MOMENTS AFTER STARTING AND THEN OPERATED NORMALLY. THE PILOT STATED HE FOUND DIRT IN THE AIRFRAME AND ENGINE FUEL SYSTEM.
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; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 653 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 653 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 262 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 11, 1992; 2 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 532UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 130° at 10 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 73°F (23°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 10:55 pm from VRB, 7 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.