Christopher Tom KITFOX 5 N533RC

Summary

On 14 October 2015 at about 18:45 local time, a Christopher Tom KITFOX 5 registered N533RC was involved in an accident near Battle Ground, Washington, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

14 October 2015 at 18:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Battle Ground, Washington, United States

Nearest airport

Private Strip (NA)

Coordinates

45.8383, -122.5467

Aircraft

Christopher Tom KITFOX 5

Registration

N533RC

Category

Airplane

Year built

2001

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Battle Ground → Battle Ground

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR16LA011

Nobody was injured.

The total loss of engine power for reasons that could not be determined because postaccident examination of the engine revealed no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private pilot reported that, shortly after takeoff from his grass airstrip for a local, personal flight, the engine began running roughly but that it then regained full power. The airplane climbed to about 300 ft above ground level, at which point, the engine began running roughly again, and it then lost all power. When the pilot realized that the airplane could not reach a nearby airport, he maneuvered the airplane back toward the grass airstrip because there were multiple fields in the area. As the pilot maneuvered around trees and fences for the forced landing, the airplane impacted a fence, nosed over, and then came to rest inverted. The pilot had refueled the airplane with automotive fuel from a container. The pilot stated that, although he drained fuel from the fuel tanks during the preflight inspection and found no contaminants, he thought that there might have been some water in the fuel line. Postaccident engine examination revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. The reason for the loss of engine power could not be determined.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.