Amateur-built KITFOX IV 1200 and Taylorcraft BL-65 accident near Glendale, Arizona, October 24, 2008
On October 24, 2008 at about 9:10 pm local time, 2 aircraft, amateur-built KITFOX IV 1200 (N427ET) and Taylorcraft BL-65 (N27639), were involved in the same accident near Glendale, Arizona (Glendale Municipal airport). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The Kitfox's pilot's failure to ascertain if the intersection he approached was clear of conflicting traffic and the controller's failure to provide pertinent traffic advisories to both pilots. Contributing to the accident was the reduced visibility from the cockpits of the conventional gear airplanes.
The Kitfox's pilot's failure to ascertain if the intersection he approached was clear of conflicting traffic and the controller's failure to provide pertinent traffic advisories to both pilots. Contributing to the accident was the reduced visibility from the cockpits of the conventional gear airplanes.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 24, 2008 · about 9:10 pm local time
- Place
- Glendale, Arizona · Glendale Municipal · map
- Type
- Accident · collision on the ground
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft 1
- Amateur-built KITFOX IV 1200
- Registration
- N427ET · registry record · serial C9420007
- Damage
- Minor damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
- Aircraft 2
- Taylorcraft BL-65 · all BL-65s on the register
- Registration
- N27639 · registry record · serial 2281
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative for the amateur-built KITFOX IV 1200 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Kitfox's pilot notified the local controller that he experienced a malfunction with his airspeed indicator and desired to make a full stop landing on runway 19. Meanwhile, the Taylorcraft pilot requested clearance to taxi for takeoff. The local and ground controllers issued the pilots their respective clearances, and the pilots proceeded as cleared. The Kitfox landed without further mishap and chose to egress the runway in a southwesterly direction using high speed taxiway A6, which terminates at taxiway A. The pilot of the Kitfox remained on the local control frequency during the time the airplane was exiting the runway and approaching taxiway A. The Taylorcraft pilot was monitoring the ground control frequency as he proceeded as cleared in a northerly direction on taxiway A, located west and parallel to runway 19. The Kitfox initially decelerated on runway 19, and further slowed on taxiways A6 and A. The collision occurred as the Kitfox began occupying the intersection of taxiways A6 and A. The visibility from both cockpits was reduced due to the fact that both airplanes were equipped with tail wheels. The converging taxi routes and the airplanes were in clear view of the controllers; however, the controllers failed to issue the pilots advisories or instructions to preclude the collision. The airport was designed such that the midfield egress point from runway 19 was located near the ingress point for airplanes that are taxiing out of the midfield parking ramp.
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 NTSB's narrative for the Taylorcraft BL-65 final · quoted from the NTSB record
The Kitfox's pilot notified the local controller that he experienced a malfunction with his airspeed indicator and desired to make a full stop landing on runway 19. Meanwhile, the Taylorcraft pilot requested clearance to taxi for takeoff. The local and ground controllers issued the pilots their respective clearances, and the pilots proceeded as cleared. The Kitfox landed without further mishap and chose to egress the runway in a southwesterly direction using high speed taxiway A6, which terminates at taxiway A. The pilot of the Kitfox remained on the local control frequency during the time the airplane was exiting the runway and approaching taxiway A. The Taylorcraft pilot was monitoring the ground control frequency as he proceeded as cleared in a northerly direction on taxiway A, located west and parallel to runway 19. The Kitfox initially decelerated on runway 19, and further slowed on taxiways A6 and A. The collision occurred as the Kitfox began occupying the intersection of taxiways A6 and A. The visibility from both cockpits was reduced due to the fact that both airplanes were equipped with tail wheels. The converging taxi routes and the airplanes were in clear view of the controllers; however, the controllers failed to issue the pilots advisories or instructions to preclude the collision. The airport was designed such that the midfield egress point from runway 19 was located near the ingress point for airplanes that are taxiing out of the midfield parking ramp.
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 for the amateur-built KITFOX IV 1200 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (from runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Operating environment › Air traffic/operating proc › (general) › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Communication (personnel) › Lack of communication › ATC personnel
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot
- factor Environmental issues › Task environment › Physical workspace › Visibility › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 4,775 hours in all; 487 in this make and model; 21 in the last 90 days; 6 in the last 30 days; 3,926 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 8, 2008
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 529 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 24, 2008
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GEU Glendale AZ at 9:02 pm
- Destination: GEU Glendale AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 7,150 ft by 100 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 190° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Sky: a few clouds at 20,000 ft
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 14°F (-10°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 8:48 pm from GEU
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
The factual record for the Taylorcraft BL-65 from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Ground collision during taxi (to runway) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Operating environment › Air traffic/operating proc › (general) › Contributed to outcome
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Communication (personnel) › Lack of communication › ATC personnel
- cause Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Monitoring other aircraft › Pilot of other aircraft
- factor Environmental issues › Task environment › Physical workspace › Visibility › Not specified
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 970 hours in all; 240 in this make and model; 900 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,500 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, October 19, 2008; 0 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,150 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental C65 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: GEU Glendale AZ
- Destination: GEU Glendale AZ
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 19, 7,150 ft by 100 ft
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number WPR09LA024.