Gray Jerry Kitfox accident near Jerome, AZ
On May 31, 2003, a Gray Jerry Kitfox (airplane) was involved in an accident near Jerome, AZ. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- May 31, 2003
- Place
- Jerome, AZ
- Aircraft
- Gray Jerry Kitfox · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 34.758°N, 112.110°W
- NTSB ID
- 20030605X00793
NTSB summary
On May 31, 2003, at 0720 mountain standard time, an amateur-built experimental Gray Kitfox 5 single-engine airplane, N111BM, collided with terrain while maneuvering in the vicinity of Jerome, Arizona. The airplane was owned and operated by the pilot under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. The private pilot and passenger were fatally injured; the airplane was destroyed. The local personal flight departed Cottonwood Airport (P52), Cottonwood, Arizona about 0715. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a visual flight plan had not been filed. An acquaintance of both the pilot and passenger, reported to a Yavapai County detective that he had introduced them earlier that morning. The purpose of the flight was to take the passenger for a short, approximately 30-minute, local area flight. He stated that the men met at the airport about 0700. He watched the plane takeoff with the pilot in the right seat. He noted that the engine sounded normal during takeoff. Officers from the Yavapai County Sheriff's Office interviewed witnesses. One witness, a local firefighter, reported that he saw the airplane flying below a ridgeline. The airplane was flying low and slow at about 200 to 300 feet above ground level (agl). It flew up a canyon, and as it approached a hill, it attempted to increase power. The airplane attempted to climb out, above the canyon, "winged over", and dived, nose first, into the mountainside. He did not hear any abnormalities with the engine. Another witness, the local Mayor, reported hearing the airplane crash. He was the first person on-scene and when he arrived
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate clearance/altitude from rising terrain, and his failure to maintain control of the airplane while maneuvering, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and in-flight collision with terrain.
More accidents in AZ
- De Havilland DHC-6-300, Sep 27, 1989
- Cessna 402C, Jun 19, 1992
- Piper PA-31-350, Aug 17, 1983
- Piper PA-31-350, Feb 13, 1995
- Cessna 421C, Sep 2, 1995
Browse: Arizona
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
