Iliamna, AK, USA
N3795Z
Piper PA-18
The airline transport certificated pilot was departing a small lake in a float-equipped airplane to reposition onto a larger lake in the area. He said that as he applied takeoff power, the left wing was immediately lifted by gusty winds. He applied left aileron, but the airplane continued to roll to the right. The right wing contacted the water and the airplane either nosed, or rolled, over. The pilot indicated that gusty wind conditions from the north may have been affected by a hill adjacent to the lake. The pilot said that prior to takeoff from the remote lake, he utilized a satellite phone to obtain weather information for his planned destination, and also for the area of departure. The pilot said he learned that the destination had gusty winds and turbulence. The closest weather reporting station, located 30 miles away, had winds of 13 knots from the north.
On September 14, 2003, about 1700 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N3795Z, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over following a loss of control during the takeoff run from a small lake, about 30 miles southwest of Iliamna, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) local area personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The airline transport certificated pilot received minor injuries, and the sole passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. No flight plan was filed, nor was one required. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on September 15, the pilot reported that he was departing a small lake to reposition the airplane onto a larger lake in the area. He said that as he applied takeoff power, the left wing was immediately lifted by gusty winds. He applied left aileron, but the airplane continued to roll to the right. The right wing contacted the water, and the airplane either nosed, or rolled, over. The pilot indicated that gusty wind conditions from the north may have been affected by a hill adjacent to the lake. In the Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) submitted by the pilot, the pilot indicated that prior to takeoff from the remote lake, he utilized a satellite phone to obtain weather information for his planned destination, and also for the area of departure. The pilot said he learned that the destination had gusty wind and turbulence. Iliamna, the closest reporting station, had winds of 13 knots from the north. At 1653, an Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR) at Iliamna was reporting, in part: Wind, 360 degrees (true) at 13 knots; visibility, 10 statute miles; clouds and sky condition, clear; temperature, 55 degrees F; dew point, 19 degrees F; altimeter, 30.23 inHg.
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the takeoff run, which resulted in the airplane nosing over in the water. Factors contributing to the accident were wind gusts, and the pilot's inadequate evaluation of the wind conditions.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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