Drake KITFOX III N3203N

Summary

On 23 August 1998 at about 00:30 local time, a Drake KITFOX III registered N3203N was involved in an accident near Aniak, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was destroyed. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 August 1998 at 00:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Aniak, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

61.2004, -158.6007

Aircraft

Drake KITFOX III

Registration

N3203N

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Anchorage → Tuluksak

Aircraft damage

Destroyed

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC98LA129

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's inadequate in-flight planning/decision, and an inadvertent stall. Factors in the accident were the pilot/owner's improper installation and pitch setting of the propeller assembly, and a tailwind.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The certificated private pilot was flying cross-country in a tailwheel equipped, experimental/homebuilt airplane. The flight was proceeding in a westbound direction over remote terrain. A tailwind was blowing from the east about 20 knots throughout the flight. The pilot 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. The pilot 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. The pilot, who was the builder of the airplane, said the airplane's propeller pitch was not set correctly, limiting the airplane's climb capability.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.