20010828022609A

(.19) On August 28, 2001, approximately 1215 pacific daylight time, a shank Kitfox model ii experimental-category amateur-built airplane, N2136F, registered to and being operated by a private pilot, was destroyed by impact forces and a post-crash fire in a collision with trees and terrain following a loss of control during climbout from goheen airport, battle ground, Washington. The pilot, who was the aircraft's sole occupant at the time, was seriously injured. Visual meteorological conditions, with winds variable at 5 knots, were reported at portland international airport, portland, Oregon, at 1155, and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR 91 personal flight. In an initial interview with an FAA inspector, the pilot stated that after he took off he encountered a "fair" cross wind, perhaps a tail wind, at the level of the tree tops, and that he suddenly lost airspeed and drifted west and into the trees . The pilot stated that his engine did not fail or suffer a loss of power during the occurrence. He further stated that after he encountered the situation, things happened so fast that he really did not know what happened. He stated that his airspeed was good on climbout, but that his airspeed suddenly dropped off and the aircraft suddenly began to sink. The owner of goheen airport, who witnessed the crash, reported to the FAA inspector that he watched the aircraft take off and get to an altitude about 200 to 250 feet above the runway when it began to flounder and mush as it drifted off to the right of the runway. The airport owner reported that the aircraft then settled into the trees and crashed. The airport owner stated that the aircraft took what he felt was an excessive take off roll, about a thousand feet, and that the aircraft did not appear to have an excessive angle of attack as the aircraft climbed out. He also stated that the engine appeared to be operating normally and that he did not notice any power loss. The airport owner reported to the FAA inspector that the winds at the airport surface were calm when the accident happened. (-23) on August 28, 2001, approximately 1215 PDT, N2136F, a shank Kitfox ii experimental - amateur built airplane registered to and operated by private pilot charles phillip stanger, was destroyed by impact forces and a post crash fire after it collided with trees and terrain, following loss of cont rol during climbout from goheen airport, battle ground, WA. The pilot, th esole occupant of the aircraft during this personal 14 CFR 91 VFR flight conducted under VMC conditions, was hospitalized with serious injuries after the accident. He stated that he believed he encountered a windshear for his airspeed was good during climbout, until he reached the level of the tree tops, where, without warning, the aircraft encountered a "fair" cross wind, or tail wind, at which time the airspeed suddenly dropped off, causing the aircraft to flutter and begin sinking. The aircraft then drifted west into the tree tops where it fell to the ground. Pdx winds were reported variable at 5 knots. There were no aircraft systems malfunctions, and the engine did not fail or suffer a loss of power.