Amateur-built Kitfox IV accident near Payson, Arizona, August 28, 2004
On August 28, 2004 at about 7:37 pm local time, a amateur-built Kitfox IV, registered N728KF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Payson, Arizona (Payson Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, which resulted in a stall and subsequent collision with terrain. Contributing factors to the accident were the turbulence and the gusting wind conditions.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 28, 2004 · about 7:37 pm local time
- Place
- Payson, Arizona · Payson Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Kitfox IV
- Registration
- N728KF · no longer on the register · serial ICU093
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane collided with terrain following a loss of control while maneuvering. The pilot was flying the airplane about 10-12 miles west of the airport when he began to notice fluctuations in indicated airspeed, resulting from gusty wind conditions. Shortly thereafter, turbulence was encountered and the airplane's indicated airspeed suddenly dropped by more than 30 knots and the airplane stalled. The airplane's nose pitched down and the airplane rolled to the left. The airplane regained airspeed during the stall recovery, but the pilot was unable to maneuver the airplane to avoid rising terrain. The pilot-rated passenger recalled the pilot maneuvering the airplane into a narrow canyon northwest of the airport. As the pilot added power and configured the airplane in a climb, the airplane encountered turbulence, rolled to the left and pitched down. The pilot attempted to regain control, but was unable to avoid the terrain. The pilot of a Cessna 172 was maneuvering the airplane over the accident site for about 1 hour 30 minutes while directing an air ambulance helicopter to the location of the accident. The pilot reported that during this time, moderate turbulence and gusty wind conditions prevailed. The pilot encountered difficulty maintaining the airplane at the desired altitude of 7,500 feet mean sea level and at the appropriate airspeed. He added that the indicated airspeed fluctuated with wind gusts, and the airplane's altitude varied by more than 500 feet. The pilot and passenger both said there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 722 hours in all; 71 in this make and model; 56 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 679 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 1, 2003
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Co-pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 400 hours in all; 1 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 0 in the last 30 days; 181 as pilot in command; 125 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 71 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2004; 71 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,232 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KPAN Payson AZ at 7:10 pm
- Destination: KPAN Payson AZ
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 95°F (35°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 7:35 pm from KPAN, 10 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
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.