Ulfeldt Kitfox IV-1200 accident near Gridley, CA
On October 6, 2006, an Ulfeldt Kitfox IV-1200 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Gridley, CA. 2 people died. Damage to the aircraft: destroyed.
- Date
- October 6, 2006
- Place
- Gridley, CA
- Aircraft
- Ulfeldt Kitfox IV-1200 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 2 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Position
- 39.367°N, 121.931°W
- NTSB ID
- 20061013X01518
Official records · LAX07LA003
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHT On October 6, 2006, about 1415 Pacific daylight time, an Ulfeldt Kitfox IV-1200, N134U, experienced a loss of engine power during initial climb from an open field about 10 nautical miles west-southwest (254 degrees, magnetic) of Gridley, California. Thereafter, the pilot(s) flying the experimental, home-built airplane reversed course. During the turn the airplane descended in a steep nose down and wing low attitude until impacting near the open field where the airplane had taken off about 1 minute earlier. A post-impact fire immediately erupted that destroyed the airplane. Both pilots were fatally injured. There were no passengers on board the dual control airplane. The commercial certificated pilot was the airplane's registered owner. The second pilot held a private pilot certificate and was reportedly a personal friend of the owner. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight. According to an officer from the Colusa County Sheriff's Department who responded to the accident site, the airplane owner's wife reported to him that her husband had experienced a fuel-related problem with his airplane during the week preceding the accident flight. The pilot reportedly fixed the problem, and the pilot's friend (second pilot) may have assisted in performing the repair. The pilot-owner's wife reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that her husband might have assembled the airplane using components from other airplanes.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain an adequate airspeed while attempting a return to runway maneuver that led to a stall spin. The reason for the power loss was not ascertained.
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Browse: California
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
