20040828021859A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Amtr KITFOX41200 · Payson, AZ · August 28, 2004

Date: August 28, 2004 · 13:00 local
Place: Payson, AZ
Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N728KF
NTSB investigation: NTSBLAX04LA305
Reported as: Amtr KITFOX41200
Reported engine: ROTAX ROTAX912UL
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 740 total74 in this make and model45 in the last 90 days

N728KFRegistration cancelled Mar 15, 2007 · Gibbs Michael J KITFOX IV-1200S/N ICU-093 · Built 2003 Airframe modelGibbs Michael J KITFOX IV-1200 Engine modelRotax SEE BOMBADIERReciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

(-23) After departing Payson, AZ (pan), on a return flt. To deer valley airport, phoenix, AZ (dvt), the pilot was cruising @ 700/800 ft (AGL) and 80 knts. As he approached a narrow canyon with steep walls and narrow width. He attempted to gain altitude when suddenly the left wing rotated rapidly to the left and 90 degrees below the aircraft. There was more turbulence and the nose of the aircraft rolled directly towards the ground with increasingly forward speed (120 knts). The pilot managed to "flatten" out the aircraft, but the ground was too close and the aircraft impacted into the forest with little forward speed. The left wing broke off and ended up on top of the right wing. There was substantial damage to the front of the fuselage and the engine and instrument panel broke off. There was no fire, however the two occupants were seriously injured and airlifted to a hospital. They are expected to survive.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) AFTER DEPARTING PAYSON, AZ (PAN), ON A RETURN FLT. TO DEER VALLEY AIRPORT, PHOENIX, AZ (DVT), THE PILOT WAS CRUISING @ 700/800 FT (AGL) AND 80 KNTS. AS HE APPROACHED A NARROW CANYON WITH STEEP WALLS AND NARROW WIDTH. HE ATTEMPTED TO GAIN ALTITUDE WHEN SUDDENLY THE LEFT WING ROTATED RAPIDLY TO THE LEFT AND 90 DEGREES BELOW THE AIRCRAFT. THERE WAS MORE TURBULENCE AND THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT ROLLED DIRECTLY TOWARDS THE GROUND WITH INCREASINGLY FORWARD SPEED (120 KNTS). THE PILOT MANAGED TO "FLATTEN" OUT THE AIRCRAFT, BUT THE GROUND WAS TOO CLOSE AND THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED INTO THE FOREST WITH LITTLE FORWARD SPEED. THE LEFT WING BROKE OFF AND ENDED UP ON TOP OF THE RIGHT WING. THERE WAS SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE FRONT OF THE FUSELAGE AND THE ENGINE AND INSTRUMENT PANEL BROKE OFF. THERE WAS NO FIRE, HOWEVER THE TWO OCCUPANTS WERE SERIOUSLY INJURED AND AIRLIFTED TO A HOSPITAL. THEY ARE EXPECTED TO SURVIVE.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB LAX04LA305Accident · Serious injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportPayson, AZthe pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall and subsequent collision with terrain. Contributing factors to the accident were the turbulence and the gusting wind conditions.Aug 28, 2004 · Substantial damage