Amateur-built KITFOX accident near Marlboro, Massachusetts, May 27, 1990
On May 27, 1990 at about 9:00 pm local time, a amateur-built KITFOX, registered N989GB, was substantially damaged in an accident near Marlboro, Massachusetts. 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 UNDETERMINED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 27, 1990 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Marlboro, Massachusetts
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KITFOX
- Registration
- N989GB · no longer on the register · serial 258
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRPLANE ENGINE LOST POWER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. HE MADE A FORCED LANDING IN A SMALL POND LOCATED ABOUT 200 YARDS FROM THE DEPARTURE END OF THE RUNWAY. THE FAA AND NTSB WERE NOT NOTIFIED ABOUT THE OCCURRENCE UNTIL AFTER THE WRECKAGE WAS REMOVED FROM THE ACCIDENT SITE AND TRANSPORTED TO THE PILOT'S HOME. INVESTIGATORS ARRIVED AT THE PILOT'S HOME TO EXAMINE THE WRECKAGE, AND FOUND THE ENGINE AND FUEL SYSTEM COMPLETELY DISASSEMBLED. THE CAUSE OF THE LOSS OF ENGINE POWER COULD NOT BE DETERMINED.
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: 213 hours in all; 48 in this make and model; 52 in the last 90 days; 25 in the last 30 days; 154 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 55 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, December 28, 1990; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax LC532 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 45°F (7°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
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.