# Accident 20040828021859A: Amtr KITFOX41200, Payson, AZ, August 28, 2004

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 28, 2004, 13:00 local time
- Place: Payson, AZ
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Normal Cruise
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.2417° N, 111.4950° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2417&lon=-111.4950&mi=10
- Aircraft: N728KF, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N728KF-2007-03-15) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Gibbs Michael J KITFOX IV-1200 (registry code 056160Y, https://openairdocs.org/model/gibbs-michael-j-kitfox-iv-1200) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax SEE BOMBADIER (registry code 55555, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AMTR KITFOX41200
- Reported engine: ROTAX ROTAX912UL
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 740 total, 74 in this make and model, 45 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB LAX04LA305](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA305) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040828021859A

## Narrative

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

(-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.

## 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 LAX04LA305](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX04LA305), Aug 28, 2004: Gibbs Kitfox IV (N728KF), Payson, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: the 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…

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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