# NTSB BFO92LA115: George A Chaffee Kitfox II, N376GC, Shelburne, VT, July 24, 1992

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: July 24, 1992, 16:00 local (20:00 UTC)
- Place: Shelburne, VT
- Location: 44.3913° N, 73.2182° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Shelburne, VT, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.3913&lon=-73.2182&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report June 30, 1993
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 11831
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=BFO92LA115
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/11831/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/BFO92LA115

## Probable cause

THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN ADEQUATE AIRSPEED WHICH RESULTED IN A STALL.  CONTRIBUTING WAS THE PILOT'S DIVERTED ATTENTION TO AN OPEN DOOR, AND AN INADEQUATE PREFLIGHT INSPECTION.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb
  - door - open
  - aircraft preflight - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - object - tree(s)
  - clearance - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - diverted attention, pilot in command (contributing factor)
  - pull-up - attempted, pilot in command
  - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause)
- In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

THIS WAS THE PILOT'S FIRST FLIGHT SINCE HE BUILT THE AIRPLANE.  ACCORDING TO THE PILOT, HE WAS GOING TO STAY IN THE TRAFFIC PATTERN TO PRACTICE TOUCH AND GO LANDINGS; HOWEVER, DURING THE INITIAL CLIMB THE LEFT DOOR ' POPPED OPEN,' AND THE PILOT BECAME DISTRACTED MOMENTARILY.  HE STATED THAT THE FLIGHT HAD CLIMBED TO ABOUT 75 TO 100 FEET, AND HE REDUCED THE POWER TO TRY TO LAND ON THE REMAINING RUNWAY, BUT THE AIRPLANE VEERED TO THE LEFT OF THE RUNWAY IN THE PATH OF TREES.  HE STATED THAT HE TRIED TO AVOID THE TREE TOPS BY PULLING BACK ON THE YOKE, BUT THE AIRPLANE STALLED AND CAME TO REST BETWEEN TWO TREES.  THE PILOT STATED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION, AND THE ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED IF HE HAD INSTALLED A POSITIVE LATCHING MECHANISM ON THE DOOR.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N376GC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N376GC-1997-05-08), registration cancelled 1997-05-08, S/N 376 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: GEORGE A CHAFFEE KITFOX II
- Registry model: [Chaffee George A KITFOX](https://openairdocs.org/model/chaffee-george-a-kitfox) (registry code 05616VY) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Ultralight, amateur-built
- Serial number: 376
- Engines: ROTAX 582LC 65 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Chaffee, George
- Registered owner: George A Chaffee
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Unknown, January 2, 2000, 0 hours before
- Airport: K9B3, Shelburne Airpark, runway 19, 2,500 × 90 ft, grass/turf

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 54; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 96 total, 28 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 45 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: BTV, 1 nm away

## FAA reports on this event (1)

The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19920724027309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19920724027309A), Jul 24, 1992: Amtrdf KITFOX, Shelburne, VT, Substantial damage. On first flight door opened on takeoff. Distracted and unskilled in homebuilt. Stalled into trees.

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

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