Amateur-built KITFOX IV accident near Vancouver, Washington, March 8, 1994
On March 8, 1994 at about 8:10 pm local time, a amateur-built KITFOX IV, registered N1942J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vancouver, Washington (Evergreen Field). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
AILERON FLIGHT CONTROLS THAT WERE JAMMED BY THE PILOT'S SEAT SLIPPING FROM ITS MOUNT. FACTORS INCLUDE INADEQUATE SEAT INSTALLATION BY THE MANUFACTURER.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 8, 1994 · about 8:10 pm local time
- Place
- Vancouver, Washington · Evergreen Field · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KITFOX IV
- Registration
- N1942J · registry record · serial 1649
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHEN THE PILOT, WHO WAS ALSO THE MANUFACTURER, PUT THE SEAT IN THE 'KIT-BUILT' AIRCRAFT, HE DID NOT ATTACH THE SEAT TO THE AIRFRAME AS RECOMMENDED BY THE KIT DESIGNER. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 28 HOURS OF TOTAL FLYING TIME, THE SEAT SLIPPED FROM ITS NORMAL POSITION IN THE AIRFRAME DURING A TOUCH-AND-GO LANDING, AND FELL UPON THE AILERON CONTROL ROD. THIS CAUSED THE AILERON CONTROL SYSTEM TO JAM, AND THE PILOT EXECUTED A GO-AROUND USING RUDDER AND ELEVATOR CONTROL INPUTS. DURING THE ENSUING FULL STOP LANDING, THE PILOT LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AS HE INITIATED THE LANDING FLARE.
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: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,880 hours in all; 22 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 28 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, February 4, 1994; 8 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 LC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28L, 2,600 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 40 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 13,000 ft; not recorded at 13,000 ft
- Temperature: 45°F (7°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.
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number SEA94LA076.