Amateur-built KITFOX LITE 2 accident near Cedarville, California, April 22, 2012
On April 22, 2012 at about 9:00 pm local time, a amateur-built KITFOX LITE 2, registered N32122, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute (cruise) near Cedarville, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power during cruise flight due to air in the fuel system. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s incorrect maintenance that did not properly secure the fuel lines.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 22, 2012 · about 9:00 pm local time
- Place
- Cedarville, California · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KITFOX LITE 2
- Registration
- N32122 · no longer on the register · serial C0206-0281
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot, who did not hold a repairman or mechanic certification, reported that he had been replacing the fuel lines. About 1 hour into the flight, the engine lost power, and the pilot initiated a forced landing in a field. During the landing roll, the airplane nosed over. Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the fuel lines were secured with tie wraps. The tie wraps secured the lines in an oval shape, which could introduce air into the fuel system and result in a loss of engine power. No additional mechanical malfunctions or failures were found that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- Loss of engine power (total) during enroute (cruise) defining event
- Loss of engine power (total) during emergency descent
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Fluids/misc hardware › Fluids › Fuel › Not specified
- factor Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Fuel system › (general) › Incorrect service/maintenance
- factor Personnel issues › Task performance › Maintenance › Installation › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft power plant › Power plant › (general) › Failure
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 15,200 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 10 in the last 90 days; 5 in the last 30 days; 15,200 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 40 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 30, 2010; 24 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: O59 Cedarville CA at 7:30 pm
- Destination: O59 Cedarville CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 36°F (2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 8:55 pm from AAT, 19 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight 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.