# Accident 19980731019159A: Aronca 15AC, Kodiak, AK, July 31, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 31, 1998, 13:31 local time
- Place: Kodiak, AK
- Airport: Kodiak/Lily/Spb
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct)
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Operator: BJLC
- Location: 57.7891° N, 152.4007° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.7891&lon=-152.4007&mi=10
- Aircraft: N1083H, registered now (https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1083H) (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 15AC
- Reported engine: LYC O360A1A
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC98LA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA113) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980731019159A

## Narrative

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

AFTER LIFTOFF WINDSHIFT CAUSED FLOATPLANE SETTLE ONTO WATER. DRIFTING TRIED AGAIN. HIT WIRES AND SHED ON SHORE. (FROM .4)  THE SEAPLANE WAS TAKING OFF IN VARIABLE DIRECTION, GUSTY CROSSWINDS.  ACCORDING TO THE PILOT/OPERATOR REPORT SUBMITTED BY THE PILOT, THE INITIAL HEADWIND SHIFTED TO A CROSSWIND, AND THEN A TAILWIND DURING THE 2,100 FEET LONG TAKEOFF WATER RUN.  THE PILOT INDICATED THAT THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE, AND SETTLED BACK TO THE WATER, WITH INSUFFICIENT DISTANCE TO STOP.  THE PILOT SAID HE LIFTED THE AIRPLANE OFF THE WATER AGAIN, BUT THE AIRPLANE LOST ALTITUDE AND AIRSPEED, AND STRUCK AN UNOCCUPIED SHED IN THE DEPARTURE PATH.  HE STATED HE SHOULD HAVE TAKEN OFF IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, OR DELAYED THE DEPARTURE UNTIL THE WINDS HAD STABILIZED.                                                         (-23) AFTER WAITING FOR SOME TIME TO SEE THAT THE WIND WAS FROM A DIRECTION WHICH WAS CONSISTENT THE PILOT TOOK OFF TO THE SOUTH ON LILY LAKE. ABOUT 10 FEET INTO THE AIR HE WAS HIT BY A SUDDEN CHANGE IN DIRECTION AND VELOCITY OF WIND FROM THE RIGHT REAR. THIS WAS WITNESSED BY A FELLOW PILOT STANDING ON THE SHORE OF THE LAKE. THE AIRPLANE WAS PUSHED BACK ONTO THE WATER AND  WAS BEING FORCED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE LAKE TOWARD THE SHORE. THE PILOT WAS ABLE TO GET AIRBORNE AGAIN, BUT WITH THE GUSTY RIGHT REAR WIND WAS NOT ABLE TO OBTAIN SUFFICIENT ALTITUDE TO CLEAR ALL THE OBSTACLES AT THE END OF THE LAKE. THE AIRPLANE FLOATS CAUGHT ON SOME WIRE AND THIS CAUSED THE AIRPLANE TO MUSH INTO A SHED. NO INJURIES TO THE PILOT, BUT SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO AIRPLANE.

## 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 ANC98LA113](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA113), Jul 31, 1998: Aeronca 15AC (N1083H), Kodiak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate weather evaluation and compensation for wind conditions. Factors associated with the accident are wind gusts, a sudden windshift to a tailwind, the pilot's failure to abort the…

## Other reports on N1083H (1)

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

- [Accident 19740526017589A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19740526017589A), May 26, 1974: Aronca 15AC (N1083H), St Germain, WI, Minor damage. Lndd on lake turned acft to avoid boat. Plt over corrected caught l wing.

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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