Amateur-built KE-1-A accident near Willow, Alaska, September 1, 2001
On September 1, 2001 at about 11:30 pm local time, a amateur-built KE-1-A, registered N24KJ, was substantially damaged in an accident near Willow, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
A loss of engine power during cruise flight for an undertermined reason.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 1, 2001 · about 11:30 pm local time
- Place
- Willow, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built KE-1-A
- Registration
- N24KJ · no longer on the register · serial KE1A1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The private certificated pilot departed on a personal cross-country flight in a float-equipped experimental/homebuilt airplane. The airplane was one of two airplanes headed for a remote lake. The pilot said that during cruise flight about 2,300 feet msl, the engine lost power, decreasing from 2,350 to about 1,500 RPM. She activated the engine boost pump, and the engine RPM increased, but then decreased again. The pilot said she made several attempts to regain engine RPM by the use of the boost pump and engine throttle, but the engine quit. The pilot selected a small lake for an emergency landing, but the airplane touched down in an area of soft, swampy terrain, about 50 yards short of the lake. During the landing roll, the left wing collided with a tree, sustaining damage to the wing spar. During repairs of the airplane, the operator reported that no mechanical malfunction was found.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 495 hours in all
- Last flight review: May 22, 2001
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 2,903 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 16, 2001; 20 hours since
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental IO-346 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PALH Anchorage AK at 6:00 pm
- Destination: Stephan Lake AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 6,000 ft; ovct
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
- Altimeter: 29.25 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.