# NTSB CEN26LA031: Denney Kitfox, N5241N, Chilton, TX, October 27, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: October 27, 2025, 05:30 local (10:30 UTC)
- Place: Chilton, TX
- Coordinates: 31.28745, -96.99027
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=31.2874&lon=-96.9903&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Investigation ongoing
- Investigation class: Class 3
- NTSB office: Central Region
- Parties: FAA FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 201928
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA031
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/201928/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA031

## Preliminary report

On October 27, 2025, about 0530 central daylight time, a Denney Kitfox III airplane, N5241N, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Chilton, Texas. The pilot and passenger were not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The flight departed from the Easterwood Field Airport (KCLL), College Station, Texas, about 0445 and was en route to the McGregor Executive Airport (KPWG), Waco, Texas. About 20 nautical miles from KPWG, the engine briefly sputtered. The pilot verified all switches and fuel selectors were in the proper positions. The engine began to violently shudder, and engine power began to degrade. The pilot pitched for best glide and flew towards a nearby airfield. Shortly after, the engine completely lost power, and the pilot set up for a forced landing to a field. Avoiding a power line pole, the airplane touched down hard in a field. Due to an unseen fence line, the pilot applied the wheel brake hard to nose the airplane over and avoid a collision with the fence. The airplane nose over and came to rest inverted. Substantial damage was sustained to the fuselage and wings. The airplane was retained for further examination.

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Enroute-cruise: Loss of engine power (total)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341) (defining event); cases with it: [Hart Doug K KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05620PP), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)
- [Emergency descent: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Hart Doug K KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05620PP), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md)
- [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Hart Doug K KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05620PP), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N5241N](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5241N-2026-08-14), registration cancelled 2026-08-14, S/N 1172, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DENNEY KITFOX (III)
- Registry model: [Hart Doug K KITFOX III](https://openairdocs.org/model/hart-doug-k-kitfox-iii) (registry code 05620PP) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1172
- Year built: 2006
- Airframe hours: 477.4
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Registration Pending
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, February 24, 2025, 108 hours before
- Departed: KCLL, College Station, TX
- Destination: KPWG, Waco, TX
- Airport: N/A
- Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 120° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 29.93 inHg
- Observed at: KPWG, 20 nm away
- METAR: METAR KPWG 271056Z AUTO 12004KT 9SM CLR 16/16 A2993 RMK AO2 SLP131 T01560156=

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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