Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Brainerd, Minnesota 56401
Sunday, August 4, 2002 14:00 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The float equipped airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted the water just after liftoff from a lake. Witnesses in a boat reported that the airplane lifted off 30 feet behind a skier that was being pulled behind the boat. They reported that the airplane then climbed to 30 feet above the boat, banked sharply to the left, and crashed into the lake. Postaccident examinations of the airframe and engine revealed no preexisting defects. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions in his report of the accident. The pilot did not submit a narrative description of the accident events.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's evasive maneuver to avoid obstacle clearance, resulting in a premature lift off with inadequate airspeed followed by a stall. The presence of the boat was a factor.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/4/2002
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1400
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Brainerd
Event State MINNESOTA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 56401
Event Date Year 2002
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
Event Location Latitude 462300N
Event Location Longitude 0942143W
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 Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1402 Central Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 85
Weather Observation Facility ID BRD
Elevation of weather observation facility 1226
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation CDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 2700
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) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 360
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 7
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.17
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 14418
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Aug 4 2002 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1854
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Nov 25 2003 11:36AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Minneapolis, Minnesota

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N11LP
NTSB Number CHI02LA235
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 Cessna
Aircraft Model 185B
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1850574
Certified Max Gross Weight 3200
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 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Jun 15 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 10
Airframe Hours 5950
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Northern Air Service, Inc.
Aircraft Owner Street Address PO Box 397
Aircraft Owner City Minong
Aircraft Owner State WI
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 54859
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 Brainerd
Departure State MI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Minong
Destination State WI
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Oct 15 2003 8:29AM
User who most recently changed record SULP
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --