20050130031469A

(-23) ON JANUARY 30, 2005 AT APPROXIMATELY 1015 EST AN AERONCA 7AC, PILOTED BY ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ TOOK OFF FROM A PRIVATE AIRSTRIP LOCATED IN THE TOWN OF ULSTER, NY. THE AIRSTRIP IS ORIENTED NORTHWEST/SOUTHEAST AND WAS SNOW COVERED. THE AIRCRAFT WAS EQUIPPED WITH SKIS AND DEPARTED TO THE NORTHWEST, THE WINDS WERE LIGHT AND VARIABLE. THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ STATES THAT AFTER ALLOWING THE ENGINE TO WARM UP HE ACCOMPLISHED A NORMAL RUN-UP. AFTER TAKE OFF THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND THEN FAILED COMPLETELY. THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ MADE A TURN TO THE LEFT, TOWARD A HILL IN AN ATTEMPT TO CONTACT THE SURFACE AND TRAVEL UP THE HILL, LOSE SPEED AND BRING THE AIRCRAFT TO A STOP. THE AIRCRAFT TRAVELED TO THE TOP OF THE HILL AND THEN BECAME AIRBORNE AGAIN. THE PILOT ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ MADE A HARD LEFT TURN TO AVOID TREES AND THE AIRCRAFT'S LEFT WING CONTACTED THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT WAS PITCHED DOWN AND TO THE LEFT AND THE NOSE STRUCK THE GROUND. THE AIRCRAFT CAME TO REST AFTER HITTING A FENCE POST, ABOUT 30 FEET FROM THE FIRST POINT OF CONTACT WITH THE GROUND. THE PILOT AND PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR FACIAL CUTS, THE AIRCRAFT WAS SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.