The pilot departed from Kodiak Airport (PADQ) in Alaska in an experimental Gerald Jones 2+2 homebuilt aircraft, destined for a remote off-airport landing site near Saltery Cove.
A friend of the pilot told investigators that the purpose of the flight was to transport hunting gear to the remote location to establish a hunting camp.
Numerous witnesses reported that, shortly after departure from PADQ, the airplane entered a steep right turn, the nose dropped, and the airplane entered a spiraling descent in a near-vertical attitude.
The airplane hit a gravel road at an elevation of about 92 feet mean sea level. A surveillance camera captured the impact and showed the airplane hit in a right-wing-low, near-vertical attitude.
The airplane, which came to rest about 25 feet from the initial impact site in a heavily wooded area, sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, wings, and tail. The pilot died in the crash.
A post-accident examination of the airframe and engine revealed no pre-accident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed while maneuvering, which resulted in an exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall.
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This November 2021 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
