19990426004069A

Acft crashed on landing and sustained substantial damage, other circumstances are unknown. (.19) on April 26, 1999, at 1332 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Luscombe L-8F airplane, N45627, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees, about 200 feet inland from zacher bay, approximately 25 miles southwest of Kodiak, Alaska. The private pilot sustained serious injuries, and the sole passenger received minor injuries. The airplane was operated by the pilot under 14 CFR part 91 as a personal, local area, flight. The flight departed the pilot's cabin on zachar bay at 1330. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed. The pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge during a telephone interview on April 27, that during initial climb after takeoff, he turned the airplane to cross a ridge, but the airplane was not gaining sufficient altitude to clear the terrain. He said he turned the airplane back toward the bay in a steep bank, and noticed the terrain was closer than he had thought. He remembered the airplane entering the first 1/2 turn of a spin, and dropping into the trees. Both occupants exited the airplane, the pilot made a distress call from his handheld radio, and they were picked up by a passing airplane within five minutes of the accident. The pilot said the airplane was at the maximum gross weight of 1,400 pounds, and that both he and the passenger were wearing shoulder harnesses. (-23) on 04/26/99 at approximately 1332 local time, christopher kinter, pilot in command of N45627, while attempting to clear a ridge line after takeoff from zachar bay, Alaska, crashed his aircraft as a result of a stall/spin. Mr. Kinter suffered serious injury while his passenger, MS. Linda mullan, sustained minor injury. Occupants were able to attract the attention of a passing aircraft which picked them up and delivered them to trident basin, Kodiak, where they were taken by ambulance to the Kodiak hospital. Mr. Kinter's aircraft was demolished. On scene accident investigation was subsequently accomplished by detachment c, Kodiak post, Alaska state troopers. (.4) the pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge (iic) he took off with the airplane at maximum gross weight. During the initial climb, he attempted to cross a ridge and realized the airplane was not gaining sufficient alt itude to clear terrain. The pilot stated he turned the airplane toward the water in a steep bank. He indicated the airplane entered a spin, and dropped into the trees. He told the NTSB iic the airplane was operating normally. No preaccident anomalies were found by the state troopers on scene, or by the NTSB metallurgy laboratory. The estimated weight of the airplane at the time of the accident was 1,484 pounds. The allowable takeoff weight was 1,375 pounds.