Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Willow, Alaska 99688
Sunday, July 2, 2006 6:45 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private pilot was conducting the first test flight of the experimental amateur-built airplane under Title 14, CFR Part 91. The pilot said he elected to takeoff from a dirt road near his house. He reported that when he applied takeoff power the airplane climbed steeply, and he was unable to get the nose down. He said he reduced engine power, and mushed the airplane into the trees at the side of the road. The airplane received substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. An FAA aviation safety inspector who examined the airplane after the accident, said he did not discover any preaccident mechanical anomalies. In his report to the NTSB, the pilot wrote, in part: "I believe I did a departure stall by letting it fly too soon."

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient airspeed to avoid an aerodynamic stall during takeoff/initial climb, which resulted in an uncontrolled descent and collision with trees. A factor associated with the accident was an inadvertent stall.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/2/2006
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 645
Event Time Zone --
Event City Willow
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99688
Event Date Year 2006
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 614631N
Event Location Longitude 1495126W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID --
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 17
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 20862
NTSB Notification Source FAA Anchorage, ROC
NTSB Notification Date Jul 11 2006 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jan 31 2007 9:40AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Anchorage, FSDO-03

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9077M
NTSB Number ANC06LA087
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 Kennedy
Aircraft Model Chinook Plus 2
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 02272XS
Certified Max Gross Weight 1050
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Jul 1 2006 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 2
Airframe Hours 2
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Rockne Kennedy
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Willow
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99688
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code --
Departure City Willow
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 700
Departure Time Zone ADT
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 - initial climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 14 2006 2:58PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --