# Accident 19980718023639A: Piper PA14, Big Lake, AK, July 18, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 18, 1998, 14:00 local time
- Place: Big Lake, AK
- Airport: Big Lake Airport
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.4592° N, 150.0908° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.4592&lon=-150.0908&mi=10
- Aircraft: N5133H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N5133H) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-14 (registry code 7101402, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-14) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O&VO-360 series (registry code 41514, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA14
- Reported engine: LYC O360A2A
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 1,424 total, 34 in this make and model, 50 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC98LA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA100) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980718023639A

## Narrative

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

FLOATPLANE COLLIDED WITH WATER WHEN HIS SEAT SLID BACK. LOST HOLD OF CONTROLS. PULLED THROTTLE COLSED. NOT FASTENED. (.4) ON JULY 18, 1998, ABOUT 1400 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A PIPER PA-14 FLOAT EQUIPPED AIRPLANE, N5133H, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT COLLIDED WITH WATER DURING INITIAL TAKEOFF FROM BIG LAKE, ALASKA. THE PRIVATE PILOT AND THE SOLE PASSENGER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91, AS A PERSONAL FLIGHT RETURNING TO WASILLA LAKE SEAPLANE BASE, WASILLA, ALASKA. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT, AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED. THE PILOT TOLD THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR ON JULY 18, THAT DURING TAKEOFF, HIS SEAT WAS NOT LOCKED AND SLIPPED AFT. HE SAID HE LOST HOLD OF THE FLIGHT CONTROLS, PULLED THE THROTTLE TO IDLE, AND CRASHED INTO THE WATER. THE AIRPLANE WAS EQUIPPED WITH CESSNA 170 SEATS, AND NEW CESSNA 170 SEAT TRACKS. PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE PILOT'S SEAT TRACKS SHOW NO VISIBLE WEAR OR ELONGATION OF THE RETAINING PIN HOLES. THE PILOT HAD RECEIVED DUAL SEAPLANE INSTRUCTION, AND WAS SCHEDULED THE FOLLOWING WEEK FOR A SEAPLANE CHECK FLIGHT. HE DID NOT HOLD A SEAPLANE RATING.                                    (-23) AIRCRAFT DEPARTING BIG LAKE AT APPROXIMATELY 1400L ON JULY 18, 1998. JUST AFTER LIFT OFF AT APPROXIMATELY 30 FT., THE PILOT' SEAT SLID BACK AND THE PILOT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE CONTROLS. THE RIGHT WING AND RIGHT FLOAT STRUCK THE WATER AND THE AIRCRAFT FLIPPED OVER. PILOT AND PASSENGER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. AIRCRAFT SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.

## 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 ANC98LA100](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA100), Jul 18, 1998: Piper PA-14 (N5133H), Big Lake, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate preflight procedure of failing to ensure his seat was engaged, which resulted in the seat slipping aft during takeoff.

## Other reports on N5133H (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 19880821062919I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19880821062919I), Aug 21, 1988: Piper PA14 (N5133H), Gulkana, AK, Minor damage. After lift off, realized could not clear hill ahead. Aborted and landed beyond lake. Floats damaged.

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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