# Accident 19980627023829A: Amtrdf KITFOX, Fountain Hills, AZ, June 27, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 27, 1998, 15:00 local time
- Place: Fountain Hills, AZ
- Airport: Goldfield Ranch Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Roll-Out (Fixed Wing)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 33.6008° N, 111.7405° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6008&lon=-111.7405&mi=10
- Aircraft: N75MZ, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N75MZ-2008-06-09) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Zimmerman Michael H KITFOX 4-1200 (registry code 05623PG, https://openairdocs.org/model/zimmerman-michael-h-kitfox-4-1200) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL) (registry code 09050, https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTRDF KITFOX
- Reported engine: ROTAX ROTAX582
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 680 total, 70 in this make and model, 12 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX98LA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA215) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980627023829A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THE WINDSOCK ON THE SOUTH END OF THE AIRPORT SHOWED THAT THE WIND WAS COMING FROM A DIRECTION OF 200 DEGREES AT A VELOCITY OF 8-10 MPH. AFTER TOUCHDOWN, A RIGHT CROSSWIND CAUSED THE AIRCRAFT TO VEER TO THE RIGHT. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE APPLIED FULL LEFT RUDDER, RIGHT AILERON AND UP ELEVATOR, AND ADDED POWER. THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO SWERVE TO THE RIGHT AND WAS WEATHER VANING. THE RIGHT MAIN TIRE LEFT THE GROUND AND THE TAIL WHEEL WAS SKIPPING. AS THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE LANDING AREA, THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED A TREE AND THE LANDING GEAR AND LEFT WING TIP IMPACTED A BERM ALONG THE EDGE OF THE LANDING AREA. THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER INVERTED AND CONTINUED TO SLIDE ABOUT 20 FEET DOWN TO THE BOTTOM OF THE RAVINE ON THE EDGE OF THE RUNWAY. THE PILOT FURTHER REPORTED THAT HE HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WITH THE AIRCRAFT PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT.                                                           (-23) PILOT REPORTED THAT ON THE LANDING ROLL, A GUST OF WIND LIFTED THE RIGHT WING CAUSING THE AIRCRAFT TO VEER OFF THE RUNWAY STRIKING A TREE THEN CAME TO REST INVERTED IN A RAVINE. PILOT REPORTED TRYING TO CORRECT FOR THE  GUST WITH CONTROLLED INPUTS, BUT THE AIRCRAFT CONTINUED TO THE RIGHT AND DOWN INTO THE RAVINE.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (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 LAX98LA215](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX98LA215), Jun 27, 1998: Zimmerman Kitfox 4-1200 (N75MZ), Fountain Hills, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during the landing roll in a crosswind.

## Other reports on N75MZ (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19960421015279I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19960421015279I), Apr 21, 1996: Amtrdf KITFOX (N75MZ), Tucson, AZ, Minor damage. Narrative: during normal landing with slight tailwind, pilot failed to properly control aircraft on touchdown. Acft. Veered sideways and rt. Main landing gear…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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