Kodiak Lily Lake Seaplane Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kodiak, Alaska 99615
Friday, July 31, 1998 13:31 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The seaplane was taking off in variable direction, gusty crosswinds. According to the pilot, the initial headwind shifted to a crosswind, and then a tailwind during the 2,100 feet long takeoff water run. The pilot indicated that the airplane became airborne, and settled back to the water, with insufficient distance to stop. The pilot said he lifted the airplane off the water again, but the airplane lost altitude and airspeed, and struck an unoccupied shed in the departure path. He stated he should have taken off in the opposite direction, or delayed the departure until the winds had stabilized.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate weather evaluation and compensation for wind conditions. Factors associated with the accident are wind gusts, a sudden windshift to a tailwind, the pilot's failure to abort the takeoff, and an inadvertent stall/mush.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/31/1998
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1331
Event Time Zone --
Event City KODIAK
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99615
Event Date Year 1998
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport KODIAK LILY LAKE SEAPLANE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 9Z3
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport 1
Airport Elevation 130
Weather Briefing Completeness Partial - limited by pilot
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1331 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 220
Weather Observation Facility ID ADQ
Elevation of weather observation facility 73
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 23
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 9
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 300
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 647
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Jul 31 1998 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1345
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 11:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N1083H
NTSB Number ANC98LA113
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed Company VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Aeronca
Aircraft Model 15AC
Aircraft Series Identifier 15AC
Aircraft Serial Number 15AC-102
Certified Max Gross Weight 2100
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jun 1 1998 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 73
Airframe Hours 6894
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name BURDETTE J. LECHNER
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO BOX 1616
Aircraft Owner City KODIAK
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99615
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code BJLC
Owner has at least one certificate Yes - certificate holder
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Positioning
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 9Z3
Departure City
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1330
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code T44
Destination City TRIDENT BASIN
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 20
Runway Length 2100
Runway Width 300
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --