Rose Kitfox accident near Hesperia, California, September 27, 2005
On September 27, 2005 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Rose Kitfox, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N656T, was substantially damaged in an accident near Hesperia, California (Hesperia Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
a loss of engine power due to a loose master ignition relay wire.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 27, 2005 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Hesperia, California · Hesperia Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Rose Kitfox, amateur-built
- Registration
- N656T · registry record · serial 9405-009
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The engine lost power during the takeoff initial climb and the airplane collided with obstacles and nosed over during the ensuing forced landing. The pilot said the engine backfired and lost power and he attempted to restart the engine several times without success. He then made an emergency off-airport landing in an open field straight ahead. Shortly after touchdown the right main landing gear struck a buried tree stump. The airplane veered to the right and nosed over. An examination of the engine revealed a loose master ignition relay wire. The Federal Aviation Administration accident coordinator (a principle maintenance inspector) tightened the wire, added engine oil, and successfully ground ran the engine.
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
- Flight time: 574 hours in all; 564 in this make and model; 19 in the last 90 days; 7 in the last 30 days; 450 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 665.3 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 1, 2004; 67.9 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,400 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Subaru EA-81-108-TBI (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: L26 Hesperia CA at 4:57 pm
- Destination: CNO Chino CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 9 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 4:53 pm from ONT, 24 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.