# NTSB LAX95LA178: Godkey Kitfox IV, N4357Q, Phoenix, AZ, May 3, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 3, 1995, 07:35 local (14:35 UTC) - Place: Phoenix, AZ - Coordinates: 33.680217, -112.090332 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=33.6802&lon=-112.0903&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 30, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29086 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX95LA178 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29086/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX95LA178 ## Probable cause the failure of the ignition system due to a deffective diode. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(total) - mech failure/malf, takeoff - initial climb - ignition system - failure,total (cause) - On ground/water collision with object, emergency landing after takeoff - object - fence ## Analysis THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN THE TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB WHEN THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. THE AIRCRAFT COMPLETED A TURN BACK TOWARD THE RUNWAY, LANDED SHORT OF THE AIRPORT BOUNDARY, AND STRUCK THE PERIMETER FENCE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD JUST TAKEN OFF WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT DEVELOPING FULL POWER. JUST THEN, THE ENGINE QUIT. HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN BACK TOWARD THE RUNWAY BUT DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO REACH THE RUNWAY. A POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE IGNITION SYSTEM WAS INOPERATIVE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE DIODE. ## Factual narrative On May 3, 1995, at 0735 mountain standard time, a homebuilt Godkey Kitfox IV, N4357Q, sustained substantial damage during a forced landing at Phoenix, Arizona. The aircraft was owned and operated by the student pilot and was on a local instructional flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. Neither the certificated flight instructor nor the student were injured. The flight originated from the Phoenix-Deer Valley Municipal Airport at 0730 on the day of the accident. The tower operator had just cleared the aircraft for takeoff from runway 25L when she heard the pilot declare an emergency. Looking in the direction of departure, she saw the aircraft complete a 180-degree turn back toward the runway. As she continued watching, the aircraft landed short of the airport boundary and struck the perimeter fence. The instructor reported that the aircraft had just taken off on runway 25L when the student, who was on the controls, informed him that the engine tachometer was not indicating full power. Just as he made the statement, the engine quit. He attempted a left 180-degree turn back toward the departure runway but did not have sufficient altitude to reach the runway and was forced to land short. A postaccident inspection by an Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness inspector revealed that the ignition system was inoperative due to a defective diode. Spark plugs were inspected for serviceability and wiring was checked for continuity. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4357Q](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4357Q-2017-04-18), registration cancelled 2017-04-18, S/N 1524, built 1992 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: GODKEY KITFOX IV - Registry model: [Gokey J G KITFOX IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/gokey-j-g-kitfox-iv) (registry code 05618HQ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1524 - Airframe hours: 193 - Engines: ROTAX 582LC 64 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Donald R. O'Connor - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, May 18, 1994, 147 hours before - Departed: DVT - Airport: DVT, Phoenix-Deer Valley Munic, runway 25L, 8,200 × 100 ft, asphalt ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 74; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 15,000 total, 110 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 170° at 4 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: DVT, 1 nm away ## 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 19950503011159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19950503011159A), May 3, 1995: Amtrdf KITFOX, Phoenix, AZ, Substantial damage. Lost power on climbout. CFI unable make airport. Hit perimeter fence. Ignition inoperative. Defective diode. 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.