Amateur-built Kit Fox III accident near Aguila, Arizona, October 15, 2004
On October 15, 2004 at about 10:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Kit Fox III, registered N543BP, was substantially damaged in an accident near Aguila, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in a stall. The nature and scope of the problem reported by the pilot is undetermined.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 2004 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Aguila, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was killed.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Kit Fox III
- Registration
- N543BP · no longer on the register · serial 877
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane impacted a concrete ravine after performing a series of erratic maneuvers. While nearing the intended destination, and in company with another airplane, the pilot radioed that he wanted to divert to a nearby airport to stretch his legs. The occupants of the other airplane said they wanted to continue to the original destination. The airplane then made several erratic turns, and as the airplane's altitude decreased, the pilot announced over the radio "I'm having a problem." With several expansive farm fields below, the airplane flew in one direction and then traversed in another direction, which a witness pilot thought was unusual for a pilot setting up for an emergency landing. While making these erratic turns, about 500 feet above ground level (agl), the airplane stalled, diving nose first into a concrete ravine. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airframe and engine at the accident site. He noted no anomalies or preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane. A second examination was conducted after the airplane was recovered by a mechanic very familiar with the aircraft and it's systems and no mechanical malfunctions or failures were found with the airplane's control system. The Medical Examiner who preformed an autopsy on the pilot did not note any evidence of pre-existing disease.
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; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 3,000 hours in all
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: unk
- Injury: fatal
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C-80A (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Bouse AZ at 9:45 pm
- Destination: E25 Wickenburg AZ
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 25,000 ft
- Temperature: 91°F (33°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.79 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 am from LUF, 47 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
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.