WASILLA, AK, USA
N7096K
PIPER PA-20
DURING TAKEOFF THE FLOATPLANE WOULD CLIMB NO HIGHER THAN 5 TO 10 FEET ABOVE THE WATER. THE PILOT CUT THE THROTTLE AND THE AIRPLANE LANDED HARD IN A SMALL POND LIKE MARSHY AREA JUST PAST THE LAKE FROM WHERE THE AIRPLANE DEPARTED. THE PILOT DID NOT HOLD A SEAPLANE RATING. THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE WAS LOADED TO WITHIN ABOUT 50 POUNDS OF ITS MAXIMUM CERTIFICATED GROSS WEIGHT. THE PILOT AND A WITNESS SAID IT WAS A HOT DAY AND THERE WAS NO WIND.
THE PILOT'S IMPROPER PREFLIGHT PLANNING/DECISION, AND HIS DELAYED ABORTED TAKEOFF. CONTRIBUTING WAS THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO USE THE AIRPLANE PERFORMANCE DATA.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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