On June 4, 1997, about 2000 Alaska daylight time, a wheel equipped experimental homebuilt, Anderson Kitfox IV, N85TA, crashed during a forced landing, about 6 miles southeast of Fairbanks, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane, registered to and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The certificated private pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. The flight departed North Pole, Alaska, about 1945. The pilot reported he was in cruise flight about 1,500 feet mean sea level. About 15 minutes after departure, the engine RPM began to decrease, and the engine quit. The pilot performed an emergency landing in a marshy area. During the landing, the airplane nosed over. The airplane received damage to the fuselage, landing gear, and propeller. Following the accident, the pilot removed the engine for examination. It was examined at Arctic Sparrow Aircraft Inc., Birchwood, Alaska. The pilot indicated the examination revealed that a crankshaft connecting rod bearing had seized.