Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Kwethluk, Alaska 99621
Wednesday, September 2, 1987 13:05 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS FLYING A SEARCH AND RESCUE MISSION FOR A MISSING AIRCRAFT WHEN HE NOTICED THAT HIS AIRSPEED INDICATOR WAS NOT WORKING. HE LANDED ON A LAKE IN GUSTY WIND CONDITIONS TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. DURING THE ENSUING TAKEOFF ATTEMPT, A GUST OF WIND LIFTED THE LEFT WING AND THE RIGHT WING CONTACTED THE WATER, CAUSING THE AIRPLANE TO NOSE OVER. PILOT STATED HE WOULD NOT HAVE FLOWN IN WIND CONDITIONS EXCEPT THAT THE MISSION WAS TO HELP SEARCH FOR FELLOW PILOT.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

Not Yet Reported

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/2/1987
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1305
Event Time Zone --
Event City KWETHLUK
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99621
Event Date Year 1987
Event Date Month 9
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 0
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 1000
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) 20
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 11
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 150
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) 18
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Light
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) 704
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Sep 2 1987 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1600
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information 33905
Date of most recent change to record Dec 13 2000 2:48PM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N7233K
NTSB Number ANC87LA134
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-18
Aircraft Series Identifier PA-18
Aircraft Serial Number 18-125
Certified Max Gross Weight 1760
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 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection Jul 15 1987 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2600
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name EVERETT F. PRINCE
Aircraft Owner Street Address P.O. BOX 1189
Aircraft Owner City BETHEL
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99559
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name EVERETT F PRINCE
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address BOX 1189
Operator City BETHEL
Operator State AK
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 99559
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) Aerial Observation
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1305
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
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 0
Runway Width 0
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --