Amateur-built KITFOX II accident near Fort Pierce, Florida, December 10, 1994
On December 10, 1994 at about 4:12 pm local time, a amateur-built KITFOX II, registered N491WC, was substantially damaged in an accident near Fort Pierce, Florida. 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 FAILURE OF THE PILOT TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF WHEN HE ENCOUNTERED WATER ON THE GRASS RUNWAY.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 10, 1994 · about 4:12 pm local time
- Place
- Fort Pierce, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KITFOX II
- Registration
- N491WC · no longer on the register · serial 281
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT ATTEMPTED TO TAKEOFF IN A HOMEBUILT AIRPLANE FROM A FIELD IN FRONT OF A HOUSE. DURING THE TAKEOFF ROLL THE AIRPLANE DID NOT ACCELERATE ADEQUATELY AND HIT A FENCE AND CARTWHEELED INTO TREES. EXAMINATION OF THE FIELD SHORTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT REVEALED THE FIELD WAS WET AND THERE WERE AREAS OF STANDING WATER.
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: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 30,000 hours in all; 88 in this make and model; 7 in the last 90 days; 3 in the last 30 days; 25,000 as pilot in command; 5,000 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 88 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, March 20, 1994; 14 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582-LC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Destination: FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 33, 500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 11 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,000 ft
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 3:54 pm from FPR, 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.