Polit KITFOX SER 5 OUTBACK N781VP
23 May 2009 · Apple Valley, California, United States · Fatal
Summary
On 23 May 2009 at about 14:45 local time, a Polit KITFOX SER 5 OUTBACK registered N781VP, operated by Harvey G Leyde Jr, was involved in an accident near Apple Valley, California, United States. One person was on board and one died. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.
The record
- Date
- at 14:45
- Classification
- Accident
- Location
- Apple Valley, California, United States
- Nearest airport
- Apple Valley Airport (APV)
- Coordinates
- 34.5753, -117.1861
- Aircraft
- Polit KITFOX SER 5 OUTBACK
- Registration
- N781VP
- Category
- Airplane
- Engines
- 1
- Operator
- Harvey G Leyde Jr
- Operating rule
- Part 91: General Aviation
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
- Phase of flight
- Not recorded
- Route
- Apple Valley → Apple Valley
- Aircraft damage
- Substantial
- Weather
- VMC
- Light
- Day
- NTSB number
- WPR09LA264
People
1 person died.
| On board | Died | Serious | Minor | Uninjured |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of aircraft control for undetermined reasons while maneuvering at low altitude.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.
Read the full NTSB narrative
Witnesses observed the accident airplane flying low, about 200 to 300 feet above the ground, when it banked sharply to the left, stalled, and then began to spin prior to impacting the ground. Due to the airplane damage, Federal Aviation Administration inspectors who responded to the accident site were not able to determine if there were any mechanical problems prior to impact. According to a pilot/mechanic who performed the annual inspection on the airplane about a month prior to the accident, he had several conversations with the accident pilot regarding the pilot's unease about flying alone since he had not flown the airplane for some time. The pilot's spouse reported that she knew of no known medical problems with her husband. She also said that he had not flown the airplane since the last annual inspection.
Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.
Other accidents in this area
| Date | Aircraft | Location | Operator | Outcome | Died |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 Apr 2009 | Cessna 172P | Livermore, California, United States | Wollard Aviation Inc. | No injuries | - |
| 10 Dec 2009 | Piper PA-38-112 | Ojai, California, United States | Aviation Pacific Inc | Fatal | 2 |
| 28 Feb 2009 | Piper PA-28R-200 | Fallbrook, California, United States | M.Y. Air Corp | No injuries | - |
| 28 Feb 2009 | Mooney M20E | Rio Linda, California, United States | David Michaud | Fatal | 2 |
| 29 Nov 2009 | Curtiss-Wright TRAVEL AIR 4000 | Torrance, California, United States | Smith Richard Charles | No injuries | - |
| 23 Aug 2009 | Piper PA-24-260 | Santa Barbara, California, United States | Kris S Michel | No injuries | - |