Amateur-built Kitfox accident near Byron, New York, August 11, 2001
On August 11, 2001 at about 6:45 pm local time, a amateur-built Kitfox, registered N912WD, was substantially damaged in an accident near Byron, New York. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control. A factor in the accident was the physiological impairment of the pilot due to the consumption of alcohol.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 11, 2001 · about 6:45 pm local time
- Place
- Byron, New York · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Kitfox
- Registration
- N912WD · no longer on the register · serial 1CV018
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was circling around a residential area 15 to 20 feet above trees and power lines. While maneuvering, the airplane reached bank angles of approximately 90 degrees, before impacting the ground in a nose low attitude. The pilot had approximately 450 hours of total flight experience, with 30 hours of that being in the accident airplane make and model. In addition, the pilot had flown 22 hours in the accident airplane within 30 days of the accident. Toxicological testing on samples taken from the pilot showed 126 (mg/dL, mg/hg) of Ethanol, 1 (mg/dL, mg/hg) of Acetaldehyde, and 0.452 (ug/ml, ug/g) of Benzoylecgonine in the pilot's blood. In addition, 0.347 (ug/ml, ug/g) of Cocaine, 6.045 (ug/ml, ug/g) Benzoylecgonine, and 0.233 (ug/ml, ug/g) of Cocaethylene was detected in the pilot's urine. Examination of the wreckage revealed no preimpact failures or malfunctions.
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: 450 hours in all; 30 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (invalid medical for flight)
- Seat: left
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 306.9 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 17, 2001; 81.4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: NONE Stafford NY at 6:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; scat at 4,600 ft
- Temperature: 81°F (27°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 6:54 pm from ROC, 20 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.