Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Minto, Alaska 99758
Sunday, June 3, 2001 9:00 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The private certificated pilot was departing a lake in a float-equipped airplane. While preparing to depart the lake, the pilot said he unknowingly punctured the left float during a collision with an unknown object. The float partially filled with water. During the takeoff run, the pilot said the airplane became airborne in ground effect, but would not climb. He aborted the takeoff and the airplane settled on the lake and hit hard. The pilot said he did not think the fuselage was significantly damaged. A postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed that a fuselage longeron was bent about 2 inches, adjacent to the left, aft, float attachment point. A mechanic planned to cut the bent portion of the longeron out of the fuselage and install a repair sleeve.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, and an excessive descent rate resulting in a hard landing during an aborted takeoff. Factors in the accident were a collision of the airplane's float assembly with an unknown object, and the pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 6/3/2001
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 900
Event Time Zone --
Event City MINTO
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99758
Event Date Year 2001
Event Date Month 6
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 650156N
Event Location Longitude 1484921W
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 --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Not pertinent
Investigator's weather source Pilot
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 4000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 50
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 10
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 315
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 15
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 25
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) --
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 11402
NTSB Notification Source FAA REGIONAL OPERATIONS CENTER
NTSB Notification Date Jun 12 2001 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1315
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Feb 20 2002 1:46PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA-AL-FAI FSDO 01

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4468Z
NTSB Number ANC01LA067
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-18
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18-8817
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection May 19 2001 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 12
Airframe Hours 2986
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated Yes
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Yes
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name TERRY M. MARQUETTE
Aircraft Owner Street Address 3032 SUPER CUB LANE
Aircraft Owner City NORTH POLE
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99705
Operator is an individual? No
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? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 MINTO
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code PAFA
Destination City FAIRBANKS
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - aborted
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 18 2002 3:43PM
User who most recently changed record STAM
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --