Skystar Aircraft Corp Kitfox Lite Squared accident near Caldwell, Idaho, March 9, 2002
On March 9, 2002 at about 9:00 pm local time, a Skystar Aircraft Corp Kitfox Lite Squared, registered N211TE, was substantially damaged in an accident near Caldwell, Idaho (Caldwell Industrial airport). It was a business 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 failure to adequately compensate for the wind conditions. High and gusting winds were a factor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 9, 2002 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Caldwell, Idaho · Caldwell Industrial · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Skystar Aircraft Corp Kitfox Lite Squared
- Registration
- N211TE · no longer on the register · serial 2L050-1010
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After landing and taxiing off the runway in high gusting wind conditions, a gust of wind hit the aircraft. The aircraft was pushed sidewise and the pilot attempted to position the nose of the airplane into the wind. The left wing lifted and the airplane nosed over. While in the pattern, the pilot tuned to the Automated Weather Observing System which reported a variable wind at 23 knots, gusting to 28.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 12,000 hours in all; 1,000 in this make and model; 25 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 11,900 as pilot in command; 4,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 5, 2000
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 165.2 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, January 29, 2001; 10 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 1
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912 ULS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: S78 Emmett ID at 8:30 pm
- Destination: EUL Caldwell ID
- Runway 12, 5,500 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 26 knots, gusting 34
- Visibility: 8 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 18°F (-8°C)
- Observation at 8:55 pm from EUL
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.