Amateur-built KITFOX 7 accident near Cody, Wyoming, December 23, 2016
On December 23, 2016 at about 5:13 pm local time, a amateur-built KITFOX 7, registered N320RJ, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Cody, Wyoming (Yellowstone Regional Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Improper maintenance of the fuel pressure regulator, which resulted in an excessive fuel and airbox pressure differential and subsequent loss of engine power.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- December 23, 2016 · about 5:13 pm local time
- Place
- Cody, Wyoming · Yellowstone Regional Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KITFOX 7
- Registration
- N320RJ · registry record · serial S70507084
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The commercial pilot stated that he had experienced engine roughness during previous flights in the accident airplane. Maintenance personnel determined that the airplane was not receiving adequate fuel at full power, even with both electric fuel pumps operating. As a result, they installed check valves in the fuel system and replaced the fuel pressure regulator. On the day of the accident, the engine experienced a total loss of power after both fuel pumps were turned off during a pre-takeoff engine run-up. The pilot and mechanic then performed another run-up check, during which the engine operated normally. The pilot subsequently departed and entered the airport traffic pattern. While on the downwind leg, with both fuel pumps operating, the pilot reduced engine power and the engine experienced a total loss of power. The pilot performed a forced landing to a field, during which the nose landing gear collapsed. Postaccident examination of the engine revealed that the fuel pressure and airbox pressure differential was not within the engine manufacturer's limits. The fuel pressure regulator was adjusted within those limits, and the engine was subsequently test run with no anomalies.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (partial) during approach (VFR pattern base)
- Attempted remediation/recovery during approach (VFR pattern base)
- Loss of engine power (partial) during emergency descent
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Collision during takeoff/land during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Scheduled/routine maintenance › Maintenance personnel
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel pressure › Incorrect service/maintenance
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel pressure › Capability exceeded
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Indicating/recording systems › (general) › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 467 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 107 in the last 90 days; 24 in the last 30 days; 403 as pilot in command; 136 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 5, 2016
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 39 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 20, 2016
- Maximum gross weight: 1,550 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 914UL (piston); 39 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: COD Cody WY at 5:00 pm
- Destination: COD Cody WY
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 22, 8,268 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 16°F (-9°C), dew point 3°F (-16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 4:56 pm from COD, 2 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 24, 2017. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Examination | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Rotex Maintenance Excerpt | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.