Amateur-built Kitfox 4 accident near New Castle, Pennsylvania, November 2, 2024
On November 2, 2024 at about 2:15 pm local time, a 1994 amateur-built Kitfox 4, registered N620GA, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near New Castle, Pennsylvania (New Castle Municipal Airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A partial loss of engine power due to a split fuel line that resulted in a fuel leak and reduced fuel supply to the aft carburetor.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- November 2, 2024 · about 2:15 pm local time
- Place
- New Castle, Pennsylvania · New Castle Municipal Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Kitfox 4, built 1994
- Registration
- N620GA · registry record · serial 9401
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
During takeoff on an instructional flight, at an altitude of about 300 ft and midfield, the airplane’s engine lost partial power. The flight instructor was unable to restore engine power, initiated a right turn, and conducted a forced landing to an open grassy area near the runway. During the landing the airplane’s right wing and fuselage sustained substantial damage. Postaccident examination of the airplane’s two-stroke engine revealed a fuel leak at the aft carburetor’s fuel supply line when the electric fuel pump was activated. The fuel line exhibited a split extending from the end of the line to beneath the clamp area. The observed split in the fuel line would have reduced fuel supply and pressure to the rear carburetor and was consistent with the reported partial loss of engine power. Maintenance records indicated that the airplane had accrued 10 flight hours since its most recent condition inspection, about 3 months before the accident. The records also showed that the airplane’s fuel lines had been replaced nearly 2 years and less than 40 hours prior to the accident.
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 initial climb defining event
- Off-field or emergency landing during landing
- Landing gear collapse during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Engine fuel and control › Fuel distribution › Damaged/degraded
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › Fuel distribution › Failure
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: gyroplane; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 1,528 hours in all; 17 in this make and model; 9 in the last 90 days; 4 in the last 30 days; 1,290 as pilot in command; 154 on instruments
- Last flight review: May 23, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 17 hours in all; 14 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 300.6 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, August 9, 2024; 10.1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 UL (piston); 301 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 05, 3,995 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 45°F (7°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 30.43 inHg
- Observation at 9:56 am from UCP
Weather report (METAR): KUCP 021356Z AUTO 04003KT 10SM CLR 07/04 A3043 RMK AO2 SLP325 T00670039 PNO $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Deformation noted to fuselage tubular structure
Photograph 2 – Deformation noted to right wing
Photograph 3 – Split noted to fuel lineThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
9 documents, released by the NTSB on August 26, 2026. 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 | NTSB 6120 1 Form | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Student Pilot Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Flight Instructor Statement | PDF, 3 pages | View Download |
| 4 | Mor FAA Examination Summary | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | FAA Examination Video 1 | MOV file | Download |
| 6 | FAA Examination Video 2 | MOV file | Download |
| 7 | Photo Array | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
| 8 | Maintenance Records | PDF, 6 pages | View Download |
| 9 | Wreckage Release Form | 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.