N3203N

On August 22, 1998, about 1630 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped, experimental/homebuilt Drake Kitfox III airplane, N3203N, was destroyed during a collision with a ridgeline, about 37 miles east-southeast of Aniak, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot/owner. The certificated private pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. A VFR flight plan was filed by the pilot, but not activated. The flight originated at the Merrill Field Airport, Anchorage, Alaska, about 1035.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on August 27, 1998, at 1240, the pilot reported the following: He was traveling to Tuluksak, Alaska, to begin a teaching job. The wind was blowing from the east about 20 knots, and was producing a tailwind throughout the accident flight. He landed at a small airstrip near the accident site for a short rest. During the landing, he damaged a wheel strut. He made repairs to the strut, and departed the airstrip toward the west. He attempted to climb the airplane over a ridgeline that was about 1,700 feet high, and about 10 miles west of the departure point. While attempting to climb over the ridgeline, the airplane stalled, and descended to the ground. He said the airplane's propeller pitch was not set correctly, limiting the airplane's climb capability.

An Alaska State Trooper stationed in Aniak, Alaska, reported he was notified by the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, of an emergency locator transmitter (ELT) signal that was transmitting from the accident area. The accident flight had been reported overdue by the pilot's spouse to the FAA's Regional Operations Center. The trooper responded to the area of the accident in a airplane, and spotted the wreckage. The pilot contacted the trooper airplane via radio, and reported he had sustained head and facial injuries. An Alaska National Guard helicopter responded to the scene from Bethel, Alaska, and transported the pilot to the hospital.

The pilot holds a private pilot certificate with a single-engine rating. He also holds a repairman experimental aircraft builder certificate for the accident airplane. The pilot was the owner/builder of the airplane.