Amateur-built Fox Model II accident near Vero Beach, Florida, October 26, 2004
On October 26, 2004 at about 8:40 pm local time, a amateur-built Fox Model II, registered N267KF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Vero Beach, Florida (Indian River Aerodrome airport). It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
Loss of engine power, for undetermined reasons, resulting in the airplane impacting with a tree and the ground during the subsequent forced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 26, 2004 · about 8:40 pm local time
- Place
- Vero Beach, Florida · Indian River Aerodrome · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Fox Model II
- Registration
- N267KF · no longer on the register · serial 267
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The certified flight instructor (CFI) stated the owner, dual student of the airplane made arrangements to get checked out in the airplane. Before the accident flight, the airplane had an engine run-up and several operational checks without any discrepancies noted. The dual student performed several high speed taxi tests to become familiar with the airplane. The CFI and the dual student departed from the runway and during the initial climb, at about 250 feet above ground, the engine lost power. The CFI allowed the dual student to be in control of the airplane during the forced landing. The airplane landed straight ahead and collided with a tree. The engine on the airplane had a total time of about 2 hours since being overhauled. The FAA inspector who examined the engine stated he found no apparent external broken or missing parts. He was able to rotate the engine by hand and found it to turn freely. The spark plugs were found with normal burn indication. The cylinder bores were checked for scoring and no stress was noted. Clean, properly mixed fuel was found at the time the carburetor bowls were examined. The carburetor fuel screens were free from debris. From these observations he established the engine should have been capable of producing power.
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
Flight instructor
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 870 hours in all; 15 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 790 as pilot in command; 150 on instruments
- Last flight review: September 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Dual student
- Certificate: private
- Flight time: 153 hours in all; 71 in this make and model; 90 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 71 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 23, 2004; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 950 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 532 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: FL74 Vero Beach FL at 8:39 pm
- Destination: FL74 Vero Beach FL
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 35, 2,600 ft by 200 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 070° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.04 inHg
- Observation at 8:53 pm from VRB, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | 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.