Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Soldotna, Alaska 99669
Tuesady, February 11, 2003 12:00 AST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot said that prior to takeoff he walked a large portion of the frozen lake to check its suitability for use. He said although recent rain left about 2 inches of standing water on the ice-covered surface of the lake, he felt the lake was suitable for takeoff. The pilot said that during the takeoff roll, the tail lifted and transferred the weight of the airplane to the main landing gear. The main wheels then encountered water deeper than he expected, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane received wing and lift strut damage during the accident.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, and his failure to maintain aircraft control which resulted in a nose over. A factor contributing to the accident was standing puddles of water on the frozen lake.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 2/11/2003
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1200
Event Time Zone Atlantic Standard Time
Event City Soldotna
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99669
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 2
MidAir Collision Indicator --
On Ground Collision occurred ? --
Event Location Latitude 602834N
Event Location Longitude 1510157W
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 --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Unknown
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Unknown
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 4
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) --
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
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 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 13661
NTSB Notification Source FAA Anchorage, ROC
NTSB Notification Date Feb 11 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1240
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 23 2003 8:35AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office Anchorage, FSDO-03

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N4492A
NTSB Number ANC03LA027
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-18-150
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18-4861
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 Feb 22 2002 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 20
Airframe Hours 5402
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Daniel L. Deraeve
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Soldotna
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99669
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 Soldotna
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1200
Departure Time Zone AST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Soldotna
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - roll/run
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record May 20 2003 4:46PM
User who most recently changed record PETL
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 --