Amateur-built KITFOX IV accident near Pittsfield, Massachusetts, September 28, 1996
On September 28, 1996 at about 1:05 pm local time, a amateur-built KITFOX IV, registered N211KF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pittsfield, Massachusetts (Pittsfield Municipal). 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 pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions, which resulted in a loss of directional control, the airplane veering off the runway, and a subsequent nose over. The adverse wind condition and uneven terrain were related factors.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 1996 · about 1:05 pm local time
- Place
- Pittsfield, Massachusetts · Pittsfield Municipal
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KITFOX IV
- Registration
- N211KF · no longer on the register · serial 1496
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot/co-owner of the homebuilt amphibian airplane was flying a VFR flight from New Jersey to New Hampshire. While en route, the weather began to deteriorate, and the pilot elected to land at an uncontrolled airport in Massachusetts. After a radio call on the airport frequency, the pilot elected to land on runway 26. He estimated the winds were from 180 to 220 degrees at 10 gusting 12 knots. During the landing roll, the airplane veered off the right side of the runway and nosed over in a 'ravine.' The surface winds at the airport were reported to be from 140 to 360 degrees at 7 to 10 knots with gusts to 20 knots. The pilot received his en route and forecasted weather from a television station.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 627 hours in all; 129 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 243 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 12, 1996; 19 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,100 lb
- Seats: 3
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: N63 Sussex NJ at 12:30 pm
- Destination: LCI Laconia NH
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 26, 5,000 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 10 knots, gusting 12
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 2,500 ft; not recorded
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
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.
Other NTSB records under N211KF the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.