# Accident 19970612013829A: Aronca S15AC, Laconia, NH, June 12, 1997

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: June 12, 1997, 17:50 local time
- Place: Laconia, NH
- Airport: Lake
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground Taxi, Other Airplane
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.5765° N, 71.4823° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Laconia, NH, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.5765&lon=-71.4823&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1105H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1105H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aeronca S15AC (registry code 0191204, https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-s15ac) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental C145 series (registry code 17012, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ARONCA S15AC
- Reported engine: CONT C1452
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 15,000 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB IAD97LA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD97LA091) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970612013829A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE PILOT WAS WATER TAXIING THE SEAPLANE AND PERFORMING A MAGNETO CHECK ON THE STEP. THE PILOT SAID HE WAS COMPLETING THE RUN UP PHASE, AND THE AIRSPEED WAS CLOSE TO LIFTOFF SPEED, WHEN A GUST OF WIND CAUGHT THE LEFT WING. THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE PREMATURELY, AND THE WIND BLEW THE AIRPLANE SIDEWAYS WHERE IT STRUCK TREES. THE REPORTED WIND AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT WAS 330 DEGREES AT 11 KNOTS, WITH GUSTS TO 15 KNOTS. THE PILOT REPORTED THAT THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WITH THE AIRPLANE OR ENGINE. THE WATER RUDDER WAS FOUND IN THE DOWN POSITION.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB IAD97LA091](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD97LA091), Jun 12, 1997: Aeronca S15AC (N1105H), Laconia, NH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate compensation for a crosswind, which resulted in the loss of aircraft control. A factor in the accident was the gusting winds.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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