Amateur-built KITFOX accident near Rigby, Idaho, March 27, 2023
On March 27, 2023 at about 10:40 pm local time, a 1990 amateur-built KITFOX, registered N89CK, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Rigby, Idaho (Rigby airport). 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).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot receiving instruction’s failure to maintain directional control during landing and the flight instructor’s delayed remedial action.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 27, 2023 · about 10:40 pm local time
- Place
- Rigby, Idaho · Rigby · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KITFOX, built 1990
- Registration
- N89CK · registry record · serial 311
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The flight instructor of the tailwheel-equipped airplane reported that the airplane swerved slightly to the left during landing roll on an instructional flight with a pilot receiving instruction at the controls. After the tailwheel touched the ground, the pilot receiving instruction attempted to control the left swerve with the right rudder. This resulted in the airplane veering to the right side of the runway and colliding with a snowbank. The airplane subsequently nosed over substantially damaging the fuselage, right wing strut and vertical stabilizer. The flight instructor reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Student/instructed pilot
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Instructor/check pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 53 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 23 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 27, 2020
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 3,945 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 42.5 in the last 90 days; 11.2 in the last 30 days; 2,735 as pilot in command; 2,305 on instruments
- Last flight review: April 15, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (waiver time limited special)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 506 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 4, 2023; 2.3 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582UL (piston); 428 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 3,727 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 300° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,300 ft
- Temperature: 28°F (-2°C), dew point 21°F (-6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.32 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from KIDA, 10 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KIDA 272253Z 30004KT 10SM OVC033 M02/M06 A3032 RMK AO2 SLP313 T10221061
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 2 |
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 docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site 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 WPR23LA144.