Bethel - H Marker Lake Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Bethel, Alaska 99559
Friday, September 16, 2011 19:45 AKD

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot reported that, during takeoff in his float-equipped airplane, he realized that the airplane was not going to become airborne before reaching the departure end of the lake. He closed the engine throttle in an attempt to abort the takeoff, but the airplane struck the shoreline and came to rest on the tundra adjacent to the lake, sustaining substantial damage to the left wing. He indicated that there were no preaccident mechanical problems with the airplane and that the accident could have been prevented if he had aborted the takeoff sooner.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's delayed decision to abort the takeoff.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 9/16/2011
Event Day of the Week Friday
Time of Event 1945
Event Time Zone --
Event City Bethel
Event State ALASKA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 99559
Event Date Year 2011
Event Date Month 9
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 604734N
Event Location Longitude 1614917W
Event Location Airport Bethel - H Marker Lake
Event Location Nearest Airport ID PABE
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 1
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1743 Atlantic Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 200
Weather Observation Facility ID PABE
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 1
Time Zone of the weather observation ADT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 2
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 15
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 3
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 60
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 6
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.52
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report SPECI PABE 170143Z 06006KT 1 3/4SM CLR 15/03 A2952
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) 29362
NTSB Notification Source FAA AAL Regional Operations Ce
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 1 2011 7:44PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N82907
NTSB Number ANC11CA105
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 --
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name PIPER
Aircraft Model PA-18-150
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18-7909031
Certified Max Gross Weight --
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 2417
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C126
Aircraft Owner Name LAW OFFICES OF DAVID HENDERSON
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City BETHEL
Aircraft Owner State AK
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 99559-2441
Operator is an individual? Yes
Operator Name DAVID HENDERSON
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City BETHEL
Operator State AK
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 99559-2441
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 --
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code PABE
Departure City Bethel
Departure State AK
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone ADT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code PABE
Destination City Bethel
Destination State AK
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Dec 1 2011 7:44PM
User who most recently changed record stam
Since inspection or accident Last Inspection
Event Location Runway Number and Location 27
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --