# NTSB ERA25LA041: Anderson Kitfox 4, N620GA, New Castle, PA, November 2, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: November 2, 2024, 10:15 local (14:15 UTC) - Place: New Castle, PA · Airport property - Coordinates: 41.026865, -80.412086 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0269&lon=-80.4121&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 26, 2026 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 195453 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA041 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/195453/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195453 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA041 ## Probable cause A partial loss of engine power due to a split fuel line that resulted in a fuel leak and reduced fuel supply to the aft carburetor. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Engine fuel and control: fuel distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057310): Aircraft › Aircraft power plant · Damaged/degraded (probable cause); cases with it: [Anderson Garo O 4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057310/cases.md?model=05624QK), [All aircraft, 55 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01057310/cases.md) - [Fuel system: fuel distribution](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Failure (probable cause); cases with it: [Anderson Garo O 4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md?model=05624QK), [All aircraft, 141 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01022820/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Initial climb: Loss of engine power (partial)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342) (defining event); cases with it: [Anderson Garo O 4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md?model=05624QK), [All aircraft, 1,858 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/342/sequence.md) - [Landing: Off-field or emergency landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440); cases with it: [Anderson Garo O 4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md?model=05624QK), [All aircraft, 3,365 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/440/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Anderson Garo O 4, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05624QK), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) ## Analysis During takeoff on an instructional flight, at an altitude of about 300 ft and midfield, the airplane’s engine lost partial power. The flight instructor was unable to restore engine power, initiated a right turn, and conducted a forced landing to an open grassy area near the runway. During the landing the airplane’s right wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane’s two-stroke engine revealed a fuel leak at the aft carburetor’s fuel supply line when the electric fuel pump was activated. The fuel line exhibited a split extending from the end of the line to beneath the clamp area. The observed split in the fuel line would have reduced fuel supply and pressure to the rear carburetor and was consistent with the reported partial loss of engine power. Maintenance records indicated that the airplane had accrued 10 flight hours since its most recent condition inspection, about 3 months before the accident. The records also showed that the airplane’s fuel lines had been replaced nearly 2 years and less than 40 hours prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative On November 2, 2024, about 1015 eastern daylight time, an experimental amateur-built Kitfox 4, N620GA, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident at New Castle Municipal Airport (UCP), New Castle, Pennsylvania. The flight instructor sustained minor injuries and the student pilot was not injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 instructional flight. The flight instructor reported that there were no anomalies noted during the preflight inspection, engine run-up checks, and previous two takeoff and landings, all performed by the student pilot. During the third takeoff, at an altitude of about 300 ft and midfield, the airplane’s engine partially lost power and the student transferred control of the airplane to the flight instructor. The flight instructor was unable to restore engine power, initiated a right turn, and landed in an open grassy area south of the runway. During the landing roll, the nose landing gear separated, and the airplane traversed across a taxiway before coming to rest in a grassy area adjacent to the runway. The airplane’s right wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the two-stroke engine performed by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector revealed no anomalies during compression and ignition checks. The fuel was free of contamination, and its coloration was consistent with the presence of oil premix. Fuel staining was observed on the muffler shroud. When the electric fuel pump was activated, a fuel leak was observed at the aft carburetor’s fuel supply line connection to the diaphragm fuel pump. A split in the fuel line was noted extending from the end of the line to beneath the clamp area. Review of the airplane’s maintenance records revealed that the last condition inspection was completed on August 09, 2024, at a total time of 290.5 hours. At the time of the accident, the airplane accrued 300.6 hours, and 10.1 hours since the last inspection. Further review of the maintenance records revealed that the fuel pump, pulse line, and fuel lines were replaced on January 21, 2023, with a recorded time of 252.6 hours. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N620GA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N620GA), registered now, S/N 9401, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ANDERSON Kitfox 4 - Registry model: [Anderson Garo O 4](https://openairdocs.org/model/anderson-garo-o-4) (registry code 05624QK) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 9401 - Year built: 1994 - Airframe hours: 300.6 - Engines: Rotax 582 UL 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, August 9, 2024, 10.1 hours before - Airport: UCP, New Castle Municipal Airport, runway 05, 3,995 × 75 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Unknown ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Flight instructor; age 57; injuries: minor; flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 23, 2023; seat: right; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 1,528 total, 17 in this make and model, 1,290 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours - Student pilot; age 53; injuries: none; student; medical: sport pilot, unknown; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 17 total, 14 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 30.43 inHg - Observed at: UCP - METAR: KUCP 021356Z AUTO 04003KT 10SM CLR 07/04 A3043 RMK AO2 SLP325 T00670039 PNO $ ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20241102016329A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20241102016329A), Nov 2, 2024: Anderson Garo O 4, Newcastle, PA, Substantial damage. On November 5, 2024, at approximately 10:20 eastern time an experimental armature built kit fox iv, [privacy data omitted], was involved in an accident at the… ## Docket (9 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 26, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=195453. 233 MB in all. - NTSB 6120 1 form (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19947370&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%201%20Form%20CFI_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Student pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19948115&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Student%20Pilot%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight instructor statement (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 4.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19947520&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CFI%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Mor FAA examination summary (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 72 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19952654&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Examination%20Summary%20FAA-Rel.pdf - FAA examination video 1 (item 5, MOV, 30.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19953653&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=FAA%20Exam%20Video%201-Rel.MOV - FAA examination video 2 (item 6, MOV, 25.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19954427&FileExtension=MOV&FileName=FAA%20Exam%20Video%202-Rel.MOV - Photo array (item 7, PDF, 4 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19954559&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.pdf - Maintenance records (item 8, PDF, 6 pages, 143 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19954280&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Maintenance%20Records_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Wreckage release form (item 9, PDF, 1 page, 23.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19947981&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Wreckage%20Release%20Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.