Amateur-built APEX accident near Wasilla, Alaska, August 1, 2023
On August 1, 2023 at about 11:15 pm local time, a 2022 amateur-built APEX, registered N907AX, was substantially damaged in an accident near Wasilla, Alaska (High Ridge Association Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain clearance during takeoff, which resulted in impact with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 2023 · about 11:15 pm local time
- Place
- Wasilla, Alaska · High Ridge Association Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built APEX, built 2022
- Registration
- N907AX · registry record · serial 1
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot stated that he planned to take the passenger on a local sightseeing flight. During takeoff from the 1,600 ft. long gravel-covered runway, the airplane performed as expected until reaching about 50 ft above ground level (agl), at which point the climb performance degraded significantly. He observed no change in engine performance or weather conditions. As the airplane neared the end of the runway, he realized that he would not be able to pass over the trees that bordered the airport and attempted to maintain direction control avoiding a heading to the larger trees. The airplane collided with the trees sustaining substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
What happened, in order
- 300200 during nose over
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Capability exceeded
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
Pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, none, APLN, none
- Flight time: 12,200 hours in all; 131 in this make and model; 60 in the last 90 days; 60 in the last 30 days; 2,500 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: February 14, 2023
- Medical certificate: class 1
- Injury: minor injuries
Passenger
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 100 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 6, 2023; 31 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Custom Aircraft Inc O-360-C1G EXP (piston); 131 hours total
- Operating certificate: in the vicinity
The flight
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 080, 1,800 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 75°C, dew point 57°C
- Altimeter: 30.07 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from PAAQ, 6 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PAAQ 012353Z 25006KT 10SM CLR 24/14 A3007 RMK AO2 SLP182 T02440139 10244 20178 56007
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ANC23LA058.