Amateur-built KITFOX accident near Cottonwood, Arizona, March 3, 1998
On March 3, 1998 at about 6:55 pm local time, a amateur-built KITFOX, registered N99TL, was substantially damaged in an accident near Cottonwood, Arizona (Cottonwood 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
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control and attain the proper airspeed for takeoff. A factor in the accident was his lack of recent experience in the make and model of airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 3, 1998 · about 6:55 pm local time
- Place
- Cottonwood, Arizona · Cottonwood Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KITFOX
- Registration
- N99TL · registry record · serial 1437
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot said he had just begun his takeoff when his right wing touched the runway. The aircraft then suddenly lifted off to approximately 40 feet above the ground and to the left of the runway. He said he was still very slow and had minimal control over the airplane. Seconds later the aircraft descended to the ground and impacted in a slightly nose low attitude. The pilot admitted that he probably lifted off without sufficient airspeed. He reported that he had about 140 hours of total time and 1 hour of flight time in the preceding 90 days in this make and model airplane.
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; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,055 hours in all; 140 in this make and model; 1 in the last 90 days; 1 in the last 30 days; 1,055 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 140 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, July 27, 1997; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,050 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: P52 AZ at 6:55 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 14, 4,250 ft by 75 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 41°F (5°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observation at 5:56 pm from FLG, 70 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.