# NTSB WPR25LA123: Park Roderic B Kitfox IV, N70265, Marana, AZ, March 29, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: March 29, 2025, 09:45 local (16:45 UTC) - Place: Marana, AZ - Coordinates: 32.41018, -111.2202 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.4102&lon=-111.2202&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 199940 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA123 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199940/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199940 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA123 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from an obstacle while performing an off-airport landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: identification/recognition](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot; cases with it: [Park Roderic B KITFOX IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md?model=05605D7), [All aircraft, 559 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041510/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained; cases with it: [Park Roderic B KITFOX IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=05605D7), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Park Roderic B KITFOX IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=05605D7), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470) (defining event); cases with it: [Park Roderic B KITFOX IV, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05605D7), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot stated that he departed a private airstrip the morning of the accident and flew to a nearby public airport. After performing several touch-and-go takeoffs and landings in the traffic pattern, he departed the traffic pattern to continue the flight. He opted to perform an off-airport landing in an open dirt field at a state park. After one reconnaissance pass, he verified that the intended touchdown area appeared flat and smooth except for a few obstacles, one of which included a dead tree stump on the left side of the rollout path. During the three-point touchdown, the airplane drifted left. As the pilot attempted to correct the drift, the airplane aligned directly with the stump. The left main gear struck the stump, shearing the wheel assembly at the axle, which dug into the dirt. The airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted, facing the opposite direction, which resulted in substantial damage to the rudder and fuselage. The pilot stated that there were no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N70265](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N70265), registered now, S/N BDU-155 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PARK RODERIC B 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 - Year built: 1998 - Airframe hours: 514 - Engines: Rotax 912UL 80 hp reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 23, 2024, 502.4 hours before - Departed: 4AZ8, Marana, AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 4, 2024; seat: left; flight hours: 77 total, 13 in this make and model, 14 as pilot in command, 13 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 240° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 23 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: KMZJ, 8 nm away - METAR: KMZJ 291735Z AUTO 24010KT 10SM CLR 24/M05 A2987 RMK AO2 ## 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 20250329004529A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250329004529A), Mar 29, 2025: Park Roderic B KITFOX IV, Pinal, AZ, Substantial damage. The pilot departed 4AZ8 intending to perform touch-and-go operations and practice emergency procedures at Pinal air Park (mzj). While en route to mzj, the… ## 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 SEA05LA071](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA05LA071), Apr 6, 2005: Park Kitfox IV (N70265), Eagle Point, OR, substantial damage. Probable cause: Loss of partial engine power during initial climb for undetermined reasons. Soft terrain was a factor ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 21, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199940. 1.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 8 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19032132&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Picture (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 195 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19031626&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Z-%20Attachment%2002%20-Photos-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.