# NTSB SEA05LA071: Park Kitfox IV, N70265, Eagle Point, OR, April 6, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: April 6, 2005, 14:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Eagle Point, OR - Coordinates: 42.543334, -122.906944 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.5433&lon=-122.9069&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report September 13, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 61271 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA05LA071 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/61271/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05LA071 ## Probable cause Loss of partial engine power during initial climb for undetermined reasons. Soft terrain was a factor ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency landing after takeoff - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - soft (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot reported that shortly after take off, about 150 feet above ground level, the engine lost partial power. The airplane was unable to maintain altitude, and the pilot initiated an off airport emergency landing to an open field. During the landing roll, the nose gear collapsed when the pilot tried to maneuver away from obstructions. The pilot further reported that this was the first flight after the airplane had been setting for about three months with the fuel tanks only partially full. The pilot stated that he had accumulated about ten hours of flight time since he purchased this aircraft. During an inspection of the airframe and engine by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction was found. ## Factual narrative On April 6, 2005, about 1400 Pacific daylight time, a homebuilt Park Kitfox IV, N70265, registered to and flown by the pilot as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, experienced a partial power loss shortly after takeoff from Beagle Sky Ranch, Eagle Point, Oregon. An emergency, off airport, landing was made to a field south of the airstrip. During the landing roll, the aircraft collided with terrain and the nose wheel collapsed. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged and the private pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. During a telephone interview, the pilot reported that he took off to the south. Shortly after take off, about 150 feet above ground level, the engine lost partial power. The airplane was unable to maintain altitude, and the pilot initiated an off airport emergency landing to an open field. During the landing roll, the nose gear collapsed when the pilot tried to maneuver away from obstructions. The pilot further reported that this was the first flight after the airplane had been setting for about three months with the fuel tanks only partially full. The pilot stated that he had accumulated about ten hours of flight time since he purchased this aircraft. During an inspection of the airframe and engine by a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector from the Hillsboro, Oregon, Flight Standards District Office, no evidence of a mechanical failure or malfunction was found. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N70265](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N70265), registered now, S/N BDU-155 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Park Kitfox IV - Registry model: [Park Roderic B KITFOX IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/park-roderic-b-kitfox-iv) (registry code 05605D7) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: BDU-155 - Airframe hours: 118 - Engines: Bombardier Rotax 912 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Floyd T. Kendrick - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 2005, 18 hours before - Departed: Eagle Point, OR - Airport: Beagle Sky ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, expired; last flight review May 1, 2002; seat: left; flight hours: 200 total, 10 in this make and model, 200 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 310° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 29.78 inHg - Observed at: MFR, 10 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 20050406005069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20050406005069A), Apr 6, 2005: Amtr KITFOXIV, Eagle Point, OR, Substantial damage. (-23) N70265, an amateur built Kitfox iv, departed beagle skyranch airport to the south. The pilot claimed that the aircraft suffered a partial power loss at… ## Other investigations on N70265 (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 WPR25LA123](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA123), Mar 29, 2025: Park Roderic B Kitfox IV (N70265), Marana, AZ, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from an obstacle while performing an off-airport landing. 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.