# NTSB MIA08LA007: Catchot Angus Kitfox IV, N61AC, Crescent City, FL, October 23, 2007

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: October 23, 2007, 17:30 local (21:30 UTC)
- Place: Crescent City, FL
- Coordinates: 29.472221, -81.572219
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4722&lon=-81.5722&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report August 28, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Orlando FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 66957
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA08LA007
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66957/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08LA007

## Probable cause

The loss of engine power for undetermine reasons.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Loss of engine power, climb
  - reason for occurrence undetermined
- Forced landing, emergency descent/landing
- In flight collision with object, landing - flare/touchdown
  - object - tree(s)

## Analysis

While climbing through 1,100 feet after takeoff the engine's power began to decrease. The pilot stated he applied carburetor heat, turned on the auxiliary fuel pump and tried unsuccessfully to regain engine power.  While making a forced landing the airplane collided with trees. Post crash examination showed both fuel tanks contained about 18 gallons of fuel. The engine was started and operated for 2 minutes at low power with no evidence of failure or malfunction.

## Factual narrative

On October 23, 2007, at 1800, eastern daylight time, a Kitfox IV experimental airplane, N61AC, collided with trees during an emergency landing near Crescent City, Florida. The airplane was substantially damaged, and the student pilot was uninjured.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The airplane was registered to and operated by a private individual under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulation Part 91.

The pilot stated that after his preflight inspection, he flew southeast over Crescent City Lake. He said that the engine began to slow down when the airplane was at an altitude of 1,100. He immediately applied carburetor heat and turned on the auxiliary fuel pump. Although all the instruments appeared in the normal range, the engine continued to slow down and then "quit." He said that he tried unsuccessfully to restart the engine. Subsequently, he made an emergency landing in a field and collided with trees.

Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that both wings were separated from the fuselage at the wing roots. Approximately 18 gallons of fuel were in both wing tanks.

After recovery of the airplane the pilot and an airframe & powerplant mechanic supplied the engine with fuel from the wing tanks and started the engine. The engine ran for 2-3 minutes at a low rpm, and no mechanical problems were found.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N61AC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N61AC-2013-08-20), registration cancelled 2013-08-20, S/N C9410-0075, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Catchot Angus Kitfox IV
- Registry model: [Catchot Angus KITFOX IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/catchot-angus-kitfox-iv) (registry code 05611N1) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 09410-0025
- Airframe hours: 91
- Engines: Mosler Mosler 2180 82 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Mark L. Thomson
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, September 1, 2007, 4 hours before
- Departed: 2FA5, Crescent Ctiy, FL
- Destination: 2FA5, Crescent City, FL
- Airport: 2FA5, Thunderbird Air Park

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Student pilot; age 42; injuries: none; student; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; seat: front; flight hours: 70 total, 60 in this make and model, 45 as pilot in command, 8 in the last 90 days, 6 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 170° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 75 °F
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observed at: KOMN, 26 nm away

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.

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