Three Mile Lake Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Wasilla, Alaska 99687
Friday, July 14, 2000 19:30 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported he took off on the long axis of the lake with a right crosswind. As he turned to the left, the airplane descended rapidly and struck the water in a nose low, upright, attitude. Witnesses reported the seaplane had performed two landings prior to the accident. They described the airplane departing a third time, climbing just above the level of the trees, doing a 'u-turn,' and dropping into the lake. They said they heard engine noise until impact. The pilot stated there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane, but he did note a partial loss of engine power, which he indicated might have been caused by carburetor icing. He stated he did not use carburetor heat. The ambient air temperature was 56 degrees Fahrenheit, and the dew point was 45 degrees Fahrenheit.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

A loss of engine power due to the pilot's failure to use carburetor heat, and an inadvertent stall. A factor associated with the accident was the existence of carburetor icing conditions.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 7/14/2000
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1930
Event Time Zone --
Event City WASILLA
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99687
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 7
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport THREE MILE 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 250
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
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 5000
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 7
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 10
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 928
NTSB Notification Source FAA-AAL-ROC
NTSB Notification Date Jul 14 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2015
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Nov 6 2001 10:11AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N9359E
NTSB Number ANC00LA089
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 Aeronca
Aircraft Model 11BC
Aircraft Series Identifier 11BC
Aircraft Serial Number 995
Certified Max Gross Weight 1350
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 16 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2079
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DEAN P. EISBERG
Aircraft Owner Street Address 19829 SAMALGA CIRCLE
Aircraft Owner City EAGLE RIVER
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99577
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 No
Departure Airport Code
Departure City FIRE LAKE
Departure State AK
Departure Country
Departure Time 1900
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code
Destination City THREE MILE LAKE
Destination State AK
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 14 2001 4:03AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 28
Runway Length 6000
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --