19970720018979A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Amtr AVID FLYER · Nikiski, AK · July 20, 1997

Date: July 20, 1997 · 11:30 local
Place: Nikiski, AK
Phase of flight: To Aborted (Fixed Wing)
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N4356H
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC97LA108
Reported as: Amtr Avidflyer
Reported engine: ROTAX ROTAX582UL
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 179 total38 in this make and model8 in the last 90 days

N4356HRegistration cancelled May 1, 1999 · Goode David AVID FLYERS/N 1093D Airframe modelGoode David AVID FLYER

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

Aircrft crashed on takeoff. (.4) the experimental seaplane was unable to maintain a climb sufficient to clear trees at the end of the lake when the headwind shifted to a gusty crosswind. The pilot intentionally landed hard onto the water to avoid trees which were located on the shoreline. The floats separated from the airplane at impact. The pilot did not hold a seaplane rating.

As the FAA filed it

AIRCRFT CRASHED ON TAKEOFF. (.4) THE EXPERIMENTAL SEAPLANE WAS UNABLE TO MAINTAIN A CLIMB SUFFICIENT TO CLEAR TREES AT THE END OF THE LAKE WHEN THE HEADWIND SHIFTED TO A GUSTY CROSSWIND. THE PILOT INTENTIONALLY LANDED HARD ONTO THE WATER TO AVOID TREES WHICH WERE LOCATED ON THE SHORELINE. THE FLOATS SEPARATED FROM THE AIRPLANE AT IMPACT. THE PILOT DID NOT HOLD A SEAPLANE RATING.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ANC97LA108Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportNikiski, AKThe pilot's inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors were the sudden windshift, and the pilot's lack of seaplane certification.Jul 20, 1997 · Substantial damage