Amateur-built KITFOX V accident near Silvana, Washington, July 9, 1995
On July 9, 1995 at about 5:26 pm local time, a amateur-built KITFOX V, registered N24KF, was destroyed in an accident near Silvana, Washington. 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. THE EMERGENCY BALLISTIC PARACHUTE NOT BEING DEPLOYED WAS A FACTOR IN THE ACCIDENT.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 1995 · about 5:26 pm local time
- Place
- Silvana, Washington
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KITFOX V
- Registration
- N24KF · registry record · serial S-9406-0034
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE PILOT WAS TO PERFORM TWO LOW LEVEL FLY-BYS OVER THE RUNWAY TO DEMONSTRATE THE QUIETNESS OF THE ENGINE. AFTER THE AIRPLANE MADE THE SECOND PASS, IT UNEXPECTEDLY DEPARTED THE AREA. WITNESSES OBSERVED THE AIRPLANE FLYING AT A LOW LEVEL, WHEN THE NOSE OF THE AIRPLANE GRADUALLY LOWERED VERTICAL TO THE TERRAIN AND THE AIRPLANE BEGAN A SLOW SPIRAL. THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED IN THIS ATTITUDE UNTIL IMPACT. DURING THE POSTCRASH INSPECTION, NO EVIDENCE WAS FOUND TO INDICATE A MECHANICAL FAILURE OR MALFUNCTION. THE AIRPLANE'S BALLISTIC RECOVERY SYSTEM HAD NOT BEEN DEPLOYED.
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: 800 hours in all; 600 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 92 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, July 1, 1995; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Nsi EA81-118JBI (piston); 0 hours total
- Fire on the ground
The flight
- Departed from: AWO Arlington WA at 5:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 020° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 8,000 ft; scat at 5,500 ft
- Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 55°F (13°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:15 pm from AWO, 4 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.