-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Gn9v0L8zOrSHkl/YMoB9lSa7+SNH5Kx+4HsE+X2QSy4qfQcmp+1LZ6mTxew/Rl6l
 ABrcz00S3VRyhVt7hVMtXQ==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001264085-03-000001.txt : 20030918
<SEC-HEADER>0001264085-03-000001.hdr.sgml : 20030918
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030918160534
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001264085-03-000001
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030916
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030918

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			MARKHOFF STEVEN E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001264085

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25202
		FILM NUMBER:		03901334

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 612787
		CITY:			DFW AIRPORT
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75261
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9724562200

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			KITTY HAWK INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000932110
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	AIR TRANSPORTATION, NONSCHEDULED [4522]
		IRS NUMBER:				752564006
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 612787
		STREET 2:		1515 W 20TH ST
		CITY:			DALLAS/FT WORTH INTN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75261
		BUSINESS PHONE:		9724562200

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		P O BOX 612787
		STREET 2:		1515 W 20TH ST
		CITY:			DALLAS/FT WORTH INTN
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75261
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>primary_doc.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>

<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2003-09-16</periodOfReport>


    <notSubjectToSection16>0</notSubjectToSection16>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000932110</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>KITTY HAWK INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>KTHK</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001264085</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>MARKHOFF STEVEN E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>P.O. BOX 612787</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1515 WEST 20TH STREET</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DFW AIRPORT</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75261</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>0</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
            <officerTitle>VP, General Counsel, Secretary</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>

        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Stock Option (right to buy)</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0.3</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2003-09-16</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness>
                <value></value>
            </transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>300000</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <footnoteId id="F3"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <value>2013-07-30</value>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>300000</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>300000</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>

    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The stock option was granted on July 30, 2003 pursuant to the terms of the Kitty Hawk 2003 Long Term Equity Incentive Plan (the &quot;Plan&quot;), adopted by the Board of Directors of Kitty Hawk, Inc. (the &quot;Issuer&quot;) on July 29, 2003, subject to the approval of the Plan by the Issuer's stockholders.  The Issuer's stockholders approved the Plan on September 16, 2003.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Of the 300,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the stock option, 6,250 shares vested on July 30, 2003 and the remaining 293,750 shares vest in 47 equal monthly installments, beginning August 1, 2003.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">Not applicable.</footnote>
    </footnotes>


    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/Steven E. Markhoff</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2003-09-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>

</ownershipDocument>

</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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