Amateur-built KITFOX IV accident near Phoenix, Arizona, May 3, 1995
On May 3, 1995 at about 2:35 pm local time, a amateur-built KITFOX IV, registered N4357Q, was substantially damaged in an accident near Phoenix, Arizona (Phoenix-Deer Valley Munic airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the failure of the ignition system due to a deffective diode.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 3, 1995 · about 2:35 pm local time
- Place
- Phoenix, Arizona · Phoenix-Deer Valley Munic · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KITFOX IV
- Registration
- N4357Q · no longer on the register · serial 1524
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN THE TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB WHEN THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. THE AIRCRAFT COMPLETED A TURN BACK TOWARD THE RUNWAY, LANDED SHORT OF THE AIRPORT BOUNDARY, AND STRUCK THE PERIMETER FENCE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD JUST TAKEN OFF WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT DEVELOPING FULL POWER. JUST THEN, THE ENGINE QUIT. HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN BACK TOWARD THE RUNWAY BUT DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO REACH THE RUNWAY. A POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE IGNITION SYSTEM WAS INOPERATIVE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE DIODE.
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: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,000 hours in all; 110 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 193 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 18, 1994; 147 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,040 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582LC (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: DVT at 2:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 25L, 8,200 ft by 100 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 170° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 50 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 39°F (4°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:35 pm from DVT, 1 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.
Other NTSB records under N4357Q the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.