Amateur-built HARTLINE KITFOX III accident near Logan, Utah, July 22, 2025
On July 22, 2025 at about 10:40 pm local time, a 1991 amateur-built HARTLINE KITFOX III, registered N422K, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Logan, Utah (Logan Cache Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during takeoff in variable wind and high density altitude conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 2025 · about 10:40 pm local time
- Place
- Logan, Utah · Logan Cache Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built HARTLINE KITFOX III, built 1991
- Registration
- N422K · registry record · serial 1000
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the tailwheel equipped airplane reported that during takeoff roll, the airplane did not lift off when expected, and that the controls were sluggish. He applied flaps and the airplane “popped up off the runway.” Once airborne, the airplane began to drift to the right and despite the pilot’s corrections, continued to drift to the right. Subsequently, the airplane descended, landed hard, and came to rest upright, about 90° off runway heading. The right wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. He added that prior to takeoff, he did not check the windsock prior to takeoff and did not compensate enough for the high density altitude and the airplane being near its maximum gross weight. At the time of the accident, the pilot was taking off on runway 28, with wind variable from 180° to 270° at 9 knots. The calculated density altitude at the time of the accident was 7,501 ft.
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 in flight during takeoff defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during takeoff
- Other weather encounter during takeoff
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Crosswind › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Temp/humidity/pressure › High density altitude › Effect on operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Planning/preparation › Weather planning › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Lateral/bank control › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: glider; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,109.7 hours in all; 50.6 in this make and model; 41.3 in the last 90 days; 5.6 in the last 30 days; 926.3 as pilot in command; 176.2 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 2, 2024
- Medical certificate: BasicMed (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,270.6 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, July 20, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 1,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912UL (piston); 1,270 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 28, 4,075 ft by 60 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observation at 4:51 pm from KLGU
Weather report (METAR): METAR KLGU 222251Z AUTO 19007KT 10SM CLR 32/02 A2993
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – View of damage to right wing.
Photograph 2 – View of damage to forward fuselage.
Photograph 3 – View of damage to fuselage.The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on October 2, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Investigation Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Other NTSB records under N422K 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.