Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sparrevohn, Alaska 99502
Monday, August 31, 1992 15:00 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE LODGE EMPLOYEE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE TOOK OFF FROM A SMALL LAKE TOWARD RISING TERRAIN THAT HE COULD NOT OUTCLIMB. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT HE TRIED TO TURN AROUND BELOW THE LEVEL AND CLIPPED A TREE WITH HIS WING TIP AND THE SPREADER BARS ON THE FLOATS. AIRCRAFT IMPACTED IN MARSHY AREA NEAR THE LAKE. THE PILOT SAID THAT HE BELIEVED HE MISJUDGED THE TAKEOFF AND POSSIBLY ACCEPTED A TAILWIND COMPONENT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

PILOT EXERCISED POOR PREFLIGHT PLANNING/PREPARATION BY TAKING OFF WITH A TAILWIND COMPONENT. FACTORS RELATING TO THE ACCIDENT WERE: THE UNFAVORABLE WIND IN THE AREA AND THE RISING HILLY/MOUNTAINOUS TERRAIN IN THE TAKEOFF PATH.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/31/1992
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone --
Event City SPARREVOHN
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99502
Event Date Year 1992
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 0
Degrees magnetic from airport 0
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation 0
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID
Elevation of weather observation facility 0
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 2000
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 0
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Overcast
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 15
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 2
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 270
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
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 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 495
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 1 1992 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 735
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 47918
Date of most recent change to record Dec 11 2000 3:11PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N786BH
NTSB Number ANC92LA150
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Destroyed
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-12
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-12
Aircraft Serial Number 12-789
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
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 3
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Apr 4 1992 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 165
Airframe Hours 4115
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JAMES F. ELLIS
Aircraft Owner Street Address 204 10TH AVENUE S0.
Aircraft Owner City GREAT FALLS
Aircraft Owner State MT
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 59404
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JAMES F. ELLIS
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address 204 10TH AVENUE S0.
Operator City GREAT FALLS
Operator State MT
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 59404
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
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) Business
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City STONY RIVER LGE
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Climb
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:35AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --