Amateur-built Kitfox 7 accident near Arlington, Washington, July 9, 2004
On July 9, 2004 at about 7:30 pm local time, a amateur-built Kitfox 7, registered N1078P, was substantially damaged in an accident near Arlington, Washington (Arlington Muni 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
The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind condition and failure to maintain directional control while landing. A factor contributing to the accident was a direct crosswind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 9, 2004 · about 7:30 pm local time
- Place
- Arlington, Washington · Arlington Muni · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Kitfox 7
- Registration
- N1078P · no longer on the register · serial Z60111-068
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated the airplane began to porpoise shortly after landing (wheel landing) on runway 34. The pilot stated corrective actions were taken, however, the airplane veered to the left and exited the runway. During the runway excursion, the airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing and rudder. The METAR weather observation for the airport during the timeframe of the accident reported in part: winds from 240 degrees true at 7 knots; visibility 10 statute mile; scattered clouds at 2,100 feet AGL, scattered clouds at 3,200 feet; temperature 18 degrees Celsius (C); dew point 12 degrees C.
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
- Flight time: 810 hours in all; 50 in this make and model
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 50 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 1, 2004; 50 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,550 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 914 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ELN Ellensburg WA at 5:00 pm
- Destination: AWO Arlington WA
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 34, 5,333 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 2,100 ft
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.95 inHg
- Observation at 7:35 pm from KAWO
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N1078P 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.