# Accident 20260309001759A: Brunner Donald G KITFOX, Littlefield, AZ, March 9, 2026

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: March 9, 2026, 17:52 local time
- Place: Littlefield, AZ
- Airport: St George Regional
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Maneuver
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 36.7999° N, 113.3876° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.7999&lon=-113.3876&mi=10
- Aircraft: N104DG, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N104DG) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Brunner Donald G KITFOX (registry code 05624TQ, https://openairdocs.org/model/brunner-donald-g-kitfox) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL) (registry code 09050, https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BRUNNER DONALD G KITFOX
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 950 total, 200 in this make and model, 2 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR26LA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA123) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20260309001759A

## Narrative

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

03/09/2026 LITTLEFIELD, ARIZONA 17:52 LOCAL, OPERATING UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 FLIGHT. AN EXPERIMENTAL KITFOX 4 WAS DESTROYED ON IMPACT WITH TERRAIN. ONE PILOT, ONE PASSENGER ON BOARD, BOTH SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. PILOT RECEIVED 2 BROKEN ANKLES; PASSENGER RECEIVED A BROKEN FOOT. FLIGHT CONTROL CONTINUITY WAS ESTABLISHED. NO DAMAGE TO PERSONS OR PROPERTY ON THE GROUND. PILOT STATED AIRCRAFT DEPARTED KSGU WITH WINDS REPORTED AT 10 KNOTS FROM 260 DEGREES ON A SOUTHEAST HEADING. DURING A LOW ALTITUDE TURN THEY EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF CONTROL, WHAT APPEARED TO BE A STRONG DOWNDRAFT, PUSHING THE AIRCRAFT STRAIGHT DOWN TO THE GROUND. PILOT IMMEDIATLY LEVELED THE WING AND ADDED FULL POWER, BUT AIRCRAFT CONTROLS DID NOT RESPOND. PILOT STATED THE POWER OF THE DOWNDRAFT OVERCAME THE PERFORMANCE OF THE AIRCRAFT AND THEY DID ALL THEY COULD DO TO KEEP WINGS LEVEL PRIOR TO IMPACT WITH TERRAIN. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST ON AN APPROXIMATE HEADING OF 300 DEGREES, 180 DEGREES FROM DIRECTION OF TRAVEL. ACCIDENT SITE INSPECTION SHOWED LEFT WING IMPACT MARK AS FIRST IMPACT POINT. LEFT WING WAS BROKEN IN HALF AND PARTIALLY SEPARATED FROM FUSELAGE. LANDING GEAR ASSEMBLY SEPARATED FROM FUSELAGE WITH LEFT AXLE AND TIRE SEPARATED FROM ASSEMBLY. RIGHT WING WAS MOSTLY INTACT WITH DAMAGE TO WINGTIP AND OUTER MOST 1/3 OF WING. FUSELAGE/EMPENNAGE WAS BENT (SCORPION) TOWARD LEFT SIDE OF AIRCRAFT. HORIZONTAL STABILIZERS, VERTICAL STABILIZER, RUDDER AND TAILWHEEL WERE INTACT WITH NO DAMAGE. PROPELLER BLADES SHOWED SIGNS CONSISTENT WITH ENGINE OPERATING UNDER POWER. POWER LEVER IN COCKPIT WAS FOUND TO BE IN THE FULL POWER (IN) POSITION.  NARATIVE MAY BE AMENDED AT A LATER DATE.

## 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 WPR26LA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR26LA123), Mar 10, 2026: Brunner Donald G Kitfox (N104DG), Rock Crossing, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: An encounter with a downdraft while maneuvering at a low altitude, which resulted in an impact with terrain.

## Other reports on N104DG (1)

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

- [Incident 20130712013389I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130712013389I), Jul 12, 2013: Brunner, Donald G KITFOX (N104DG), Smoketown, PA, Minor damage. Pilot operating an amateur built experimental Kitfox departed rw 28 from S37, while climbing out, the engine lost power and quit at approximately 300 feet AGL.…

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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