Hall KITFOX 1 accident near Pompeys Pillar, Montana, August 23, 1995
On August 23, 1995 at about 1:30 am local time, a Hall KITFOX 1, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N87TJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Pompeys Pillar, Montana. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff. High density altitude, unavailabilty of aircraft takeoff performance data, and the short rough takeoff area were factors in the accident.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 23, 1995 · about 1:30 am local time
- Place
- Pompeys Pillar, Montana · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Hall KITFOX 1, amateur-built
- Registration
- N87TJ · registry record · serial 158
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot attempted to take off from a 700-foot wheat field which had been cut to stubble. He reported the aircraft's gross weight as 907 pounds; its maximum gross weight is 950 pounds. Density altitude was approximately 5,900 feet. The pilot stated that since the aircraft was experimental category, no takeoff data charts were available for preflight planning. He reported that he rotated the aircraft at 40 mph, but he had 'no lift.' He then aborted the takeoff but was unable to stop the aircraft before reaching the end of the takeoff area. The aircraft went through a barbed-wire fence, struck a series of ditches and flipped over. A takeoff distance estimate, using a generic takeoff performance computer, predicted a required takeoff distance of approximately 600 feet. The pilot stated in his accident report that he thought the accident could have been prevented by a 'no go decision sooner in [the] takeoff roll.'
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: 174 hours in all; 66 in this make and model; 154 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 91 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 28, 1994; 66 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 532 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 060° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:30 am from BIL, 26 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.
Other NTSB records under N87TJ 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.