Amateur-built Kitfox IV accident near Rigby, Idaho, June 29, 2004
On June 29, 2004 at about 2:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Kitfox IV, registered N316R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Rigby, Idaho (Rigby-Jefferson County airport). It was a personal 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
Failure to maintain directional control during the landing roll. Factors include muddy terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 2004 · about 2:30 pm local time
- Place
- Rigby, Idaho · Rigby-Jefferson County · 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
- N316R · registry record · serial 1561
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The first pilot reported that the second pilot was checking him out in type. He stated the second pilot completed the first landing on runway 19. Following the successful landing the first pilot attempted a landing on the same runway. He stated that shortly after touchdown, during the landing roll, the airplane veered to the right. The first pilot applied brakes and corrective action, however, the airplane continued to track to the right. The airplane eventually exited the runway, encountered soft muddy terrain and nosed down.
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: airline transport pilot, 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: 12,000 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 11,000 as pilot in command; 1,000 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 3, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Flight instructor
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 1,000 hours in all; 800 in this make and model; 20 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: August 5, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 370 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: U56 Rigby ID at 2:00 pm
- Destination: U56 Rigby ID
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 3,500 ft by 50 ft
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 52°F (11°C)
- Altimeter: 30.14 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from KIDA, 10 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.
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.