# NTSB ANC03LA112: Dusseau Kitfox, N20TZ, Nikiski, AK, September 11, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 10, 2003, 16:15 local (Sep 11, 2003, 00:15 UTC) - Place: Nikiski, AK - Coordinates: 60.633335, -151.300003 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=60.6333&lon=-151.3000&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 28, 2004 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 57922 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC03LA112 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57922/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC03LA112 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power for an undetermined reason, which resulted in an overrun during the emergency landing, and subsequent nose over in swampy terrain. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power, maneuvering - turn to landing area (emergency) - reason for occurrence undetermined (cause) - Forced landing, emergency descent/landing - Overrun, emergency landing - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, emergency landing - terrain condition - dirt bank/rising embankment - terrain condition - swampy (contributing factor) - Nose over, emergency landing ## Analysis The private pilot reported that after takeoff, as he climbed the experimental/homebuilt airplane to about 1,200 feet above the ground, the engine began to misfire, and he elected to return to the departure airstrip. As the flight entered the traffic pattern for landing, he retarded the throttle to begin his approach, and all engine power was lost. During the emergency approach to the 1,740 foot long gravel-covered airstrip, he inadvertently flew further down the airstrip than planned. After touchdown, he was unable to stop his landing roll before reaching the end of the airstrip. The airplane subsequently rolled down an embankment, into an area of swampy, soft terrain, and nosed over. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot did not indicate what precipitated the loss of engine power. ## Factual narrative On September 10, 2003, about 1615 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped experimental/homebuilt, Dusseau Kitfox airplane, N20TZ, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during an emergency landing following a loss of engine power after takeoff, at the Arness Lake Airstrip, Nikiski, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private certificated pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight originated from the accident airstrip about 1555, and no flight plan was filed. In the pilot's written statement to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), he reported that after takeoff, as t airplane climbed to about 1,200 feet above the ground, the engine began to misfire, and he elected to return to his departure airstrip. He noted that as the flight entered a standard traffic pattern for landing on runway 21, he retarded the throttle to begin his approach, and all engine power was lost. During the emergency approach to the 1,740 foot long gravel-covered airstrip, he said he inadvertently flew further down the airstrip than planned. After touchdown, he was unable to stop his landing roll before reaching the end of the airstrip, and the airplane rolled down an embankment, into an area of swampy, soft terrain, and nosed over. The airplane sustained structural damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot did not indicate what precipitated the loss of engine power. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N20TZ](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N20TZ), registered now, S/N S96080188 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Dusseau Kitfox - Registry model: [Dusseau Richard F KITFOX SER 5 SAFARI](https://openairdocs.org/model/dusseau-richard-f-kitfox-ser-5-safari) (registry code 05606AA) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 596080188 - Airframe hours: 338 - Engines: Canadian Air Motive (Honda) CAM 100 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Paul D. Dale - Registered owner: Brenda L. Stoops - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 13, 2002, 262 hours before - Departed: 6Z1, Nikiski, AK - Destination: 6Z1, Nikiski, AK - Airport: 6Z1, Arness Lake Airstrip, runway 21, 1,740 × 40 ft, gravel ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 195 total, 189 in this make and model, 160 as pilot in command, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Temperature: 61 °F ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20030910037699A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030910037699A), Sep 10, 2003: Amtr KITFOXSERIE5, Kenai, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot experienced engine problems after take-off. Pilot decided to land back at airstrip, engine quit operating. Pilot became focused on restarting… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.