# NTSB CEN26LA268: Kitfox III, N573TB, Ephraim, WI, July 27, 2026

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Preliminary report
- Date: July 26, 2026, 19:41 local (Jul 27, 2026, 00:41 UTC)
- Place: Ephraim, WI
- Coordinates: 45.154616, -87.142661 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.1546&lon=-87.1427&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: Federal Aviation Administration, Milwaukee FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 203463
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN26LA268
- NTSB preliminary report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/203463/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN26LA268

## Preliminary report

On July 26, 2026, at 1941 central daylight time, an experimental Kitfox III airplane, N573TB, sustained substantial damage when it was involved in an accident near Ephraim, Wisconsin. The private pilot and a passenger were uninjured. The airplane was operated under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations as a Part 91 personal flight. The pilot stated that he had flown the airplane for about an hour and was returning to Ephriam Airport, Ephraim, Wisconsin. During approach for landing on runway 14, the airplane engine suddenly lost total power. The pilot then performed a forced landing to a field about 3 miles east/northeast of the airport. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both 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: [Bauer Thomas G KITFOX III, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md?model=05627EG), [All aircraft, 3,820 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/341/sequence.md)

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N573TB](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N573TB), registered now, S/N 1016, built 2008 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Kitfox III
- Registry model: [Bauer Thomas G KITFOX III](https://openairdocs.org/model/bauer-thomas-g-kitfox-iii) (registry code 05627EG) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 912UL](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul) (registry code 55592, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1016
- Year built: 2008
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Pilot
- Registered owner: PIlot
- Airport: 3D2, Ephraim Airport

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 190° at -40 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 66 °F
- Altimeter: 17.00 inHg
- Observed at: 3D2, 3 nm away

## Other investigations on N573TB (1)

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.

- [NTSB ERA15CA080](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA15CA080), Dec 20, 2014: Bauer Thomas G Kitfox III (N573TB), Bumpass, VA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper flare during a water landing.

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.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.