N20TZ

On September 10, 2003, about 1615 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped experimental/homebuilt, Dusseau Kitfox airplane, N20TZ, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during an emergency landing following a loss of engine power after takeoff, at the Arness Lake Airstrip, Nikiski, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated from the accident airstrip about 1555, and no flight plan was filed.

In the pilot's written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), he reported that after takeoff, as t airplane climbed to about 1,200 feet above the ground, the engine began to misfire, and he elected to return to his departure airstrip. He noted that as the flight entered a standard traffic pattern for landing on runway 21, he retarded the throttle to begin his approach, and all engine power was lost. During the emergency approach to the 1,740 foot long gravel-covered airstrip, he said he inadvertently flew further down the airstrip than planned. After touchdown, he was unable to stop his landing roll before reaching the end of the airstrip, and the airplane rolled down an embankment, into an area of swampy, soft terrain, and nosed over. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot did not indicate what precipitated the loss of engine power.