Phoenix-Deer Valley Munic Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Phoenix, Arizona 85027
Wednesday, May 3, 1995 7:35 MST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE AIRCRAFT WAS IN THE TAKEOFF INITIAL CLIMB WHEN THE PILOT DECLARED AN EMERGENCY. THE AIRCRAFT COMPLETED A TURN BACK TOWARD THE RUNWAY, LANDED SHORT OF THE AIRPORT BOUNDARY, AND STRUCK THE PERIMETER FENCE. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE HAD JUST TAKEN OFF WHEN HE NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT DEVELOPING FULL POWER. JUST THEN, THE ENGINE QUIT. HE ATTEMPTED TO TURN BACK TOWARD THE RUNWAY BUT DID NOT HAVE SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO REACH THE RUNWAY. A POSTACCIDENT INSPECTION REVEALED THAT THE IGNITION SYSTEM WAS INOPERATIVE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE DIODE.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

the failure of the ignition system due to a deffective diode.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/3/1995
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 735
Event Time Zone Mountain Standard Time
Event City PHOENIX
Event State ARIZONA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 85027
Event Date Year 1995
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport PHOENIX-DEER VALLEY MUNIC
Event Location Nearest Airport ID DVT
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport 250
Airport Elevation 1476
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 635 Mountain Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 70
Weather Observation Facility ID DVT
Elevation of weather observation facility 1476
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation MST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 21
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 4
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 170
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 828
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date May 3 1995 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 900
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 7 2000 4:16PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4357Q
NTSB Number LAX95LA178
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name GODKEY
Aircraft Model KITFOX IV
Aircraft Series Identifier KITFOX IV
Aircraft Serial Number 1524
Certified Max Gross Weight 1040
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 18 1994 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 147
Airframe Hours 193
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DONALD R. O'CONNOR
Aircraft Owner Street Address 5717 E. REDBIRD ROAD
Aircraft Owner City CAVE CREEK
Aircraft Owner State AZ
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 85331
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code DVT
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 730
Departure Time Zone MST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 25L
Runway Length 8200
Runway Width 100
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --