Kite KITFOX IV 1200 N4038T

Summary

On 19 August 1998 at about 15:25 local time, a Kite KITFOX IV 1200 registered N4038T, operated by Peter R. Kite, was involved in an accident near Granby, New York, United States. 2 people were on board and one died, one was seriously injured. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

19 August 1998 at 15:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Granby, New York, United States

Nearest airport

Loren's Aviation (NONE)

Coordinates

43.3104, -76.4107

Aircraft

Kite KITFOX IV 1200

Registration

N4038T

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Peter R. Kite

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Unknown

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC98LA170

1 person died.

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed which resulted in an inadvertent stall.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The experimental airplane was modified with the addition of an elevator trim tab and manual cockpit control for the elevator trim tab. On the first flight following installation, the airplane was observed to depart, turned crosswind and downwind as though returning for a landing. During the right turn from downwind to base, the airplane nose dived into trees. The PIC was fatally injured, and the owner/pilot in the right seat had no memory of the accident or events leading to it. The elevator trim was found with the trailing edge down, and the cable would slip where it attached to the cockpit control lever. The airplane had not been inspected and a new Special Airworthiness Certificate was not issued as required by the Experimental Operation Limitations.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.