Amateur-built KITFOX accident near Rock Crossing, Arizona, March 10, 2026
On March 10, 2026 at about 1:00 am local time, a 1995 amateur-built KITFOX, registered N104DG, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering (low-alt flying) near Rock Crossing, Arizona. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
An encounter with a downdraft while maneuvering at a low altitude, which resulted in an impact with terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 10, 2026 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Rock Crossing, Arizona · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured and 1 person had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KITFOX, built 1995
- Registration
- N104DG · registry record · serial LCS146
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot was maneuvering at a low altitude, searching for a suitable off-airport landing area. While in a left turn, the airplane encountered a downdraft that felt like “downward pressure” and was perceived as a loss of control. The pilot leveled the wings and applied full engine power; however, the airplane continued to descend, and impacted terrain. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, both wings, and empennage. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies prior to the accident that would have precluded normal operation of the airplane.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering (low-alt flying) defining event
- Low altitude operation/event during maneuvering
- Other weather encounter during maneuvering (low-alt flying)
The NTSB's findings
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Downdraft › Contributed to outcome
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Terrain › Mountainous/hilly terrain › Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Altitude › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land
- Flight time: 960.8 hours in all; 133.4 in this make and model; 9.9 in the last 90 days; 5.6 in the last 30 days; 824.8 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 31, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 650 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 24, 2026; 2 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912UL (piston); 625 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: SGU Saint George UT at 11:30 pm
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 270° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 23°F (-5°C)
- Altimeter: 29.82 inHg
- Observation at 6:00 pm from KSGU, 21 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KSGU 092356Z AUTO 27012KT 10SM CLR 23/M05 A2982 RMK AO2 SLP084 T02281050 10239 20133 56015
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on June 25, 2026. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memorandum for Record A�� Telephone Interview, Pilot | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Photos | PDF, 5 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 WPR26LA123.