What happened
On September 14, 2024, at 09:30 Alaska daylight time, an experimental amateur-built JP Flyer, registration N1202Y, was involved in an accident near Wasilla, Alaska. The flight was being operated under 14 CFR Part 91 for personal use.
The pilot had recently completed an extensive rebuild of the aircraft, which was originally a Piper PA-12. This reconstruction process, performed in Anchorage, included the installation of modified engine ignition components, a new propeller, wing slats, and high-performance wing flaps. This flight marked the pilot's first flight in the aircraft since the completion of these modifications.
Witnesses at Anderson Lake Airport (0AK1) observed the aircraft beginning its takeoff roll on Runway 8. Observers noted that the engine did not appear to be producing full takeoff power and expected the pilot to abort the takeoff. However, the aircraft became airborne and entered a shallow climb. During this climb, witnesses heard the engine lose power, after which the aircraft descended behind a stand of trees at the end of the runway.
The aircraft continued its descent into a residential neighborhood located approximately one-quarter mile east of the airport. It struck a paved residential road in a near-vertical, nose-down attitude. A post-impact fire occurred, which destroyed a large portion of the wreckage. The pilot sustained 1 fatal injury.