Sand Lake Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Anchorage, Alaska 99502
Saturday, September 11, 1999 11:45 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot was taking off from a private lake in a homebuilt/experimental float equipped airplane. While waiting for a departure clearance, he was taxiing in a tight left turn in a cove located at the west end of the lake. The water rudders were extended and displaced to the left. The pilot said the water rudders are stiff when they are deployed. After receiving his clearance, he began his departure from the cove. During the takeoff run, he left the water rudders extended. When the airplane became airborne, he said the airplane continued to turn left. He was unable to prevent the airplane from colliding with a small boat dock, and the top of a small boat. The airplane then collided with trees along the edge of the lake. An FAA inspector said the distance from the cove used for departure to the dock was about 500 feet. The distance from the dock to the trees was about 100 feet. In the Pilot/Operator report (NTSB form 6120.1/2) submitted by the pilot, he stated, in part: '...At rotation, could not control P-Factor of engine with max right rudder.' The pilot also indicated there was no mechanical malfunction/failure.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's inadequate planning/decision, and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. Factors in the accident were a short runway/lake area for departure, and the pilot's extension of the landing gear steering system (water rudders) during the takeoff run.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/11/1999
Event Day of the Week Saturday
Time of Event 1145
Event Time Zone --
Event City ANCHORAGE
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99502
Event Date Year 1999
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport SAND LAKE
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 100
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 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) 30
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 0
Variable Wind Indicator Variable
Wind Speed (knots) 0
Wind Velocity Indicator Light and Variable
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1512
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 11 1999 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1254
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Jan 23 2001 9:32AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4BZ
NTSB Number ANC99LA143
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Diehl
Aircraft Model INTERSTATE S-4
Aircraft Series Identifier INTERSTATE
Aircraft Serial Number 004
Certified Max Gross Weight 2400
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
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 Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jul 28 1999 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DAVID D. KYZER
Aircraft Owner Street Address 4620 SANDY BEACH DR.
Aircraft Owner City ANCHORAGE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 55502
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
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1145
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City BUTTERFLY LAKE
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 23 2001 11:29AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 9
Runway Length 500
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --