# Accident 19980909022869A: Piper PA11, Willow, AK, September 9, 1998

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: September 9, 1998, 07:50 local time
- Place: Willow, AK
- Airport: Willow
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Ground Taxi, Other Airplane
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 61.8907° N, 149.7296° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.8907&lon=-149.7296&mi=10
- Aircraft: N30961, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N30961-2012-08-27) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Piper PA-11 (registry code 7101102, https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-11) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Continental A&C65 series (registry code 17003, https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PIPER PA11
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Pilot flight hours: 288 total, 30 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC98LA144](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA144) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980909022869A

## Narrative

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

(.19) ON SEPTEMBER 9, 1998, AT 0750 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A FLOAT EQUIPPED PIPER PA-11 AIRPLANE SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHEN IT STRUCK TERRAIN DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN FROM HONEYBEE LAKE, TWO MILES SOUTH OF WILLOW, ALASKA. THE SOLO COMMERCIAL PILOT WAS NOT INJURED.  THE FLIGHT WAS OPERATED BY KURT STENEHJEN OF WILLOW.  THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER 14 CFR PART 91 AS A PERSONAL FLIGHT.  VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND NO FLIGHT PLAN WAS FILED.  THE PILOT TOLD TWO FAA INSPECTORS WHO INTERVIEWED HIM AT THE ACCIDENT SITE ON SEPTEMBER 9, THAT DURING STEP TAXI FOR TAKEOFF, WHILE HEADING INTO THE SUN, THE AIRPLANE STRUCK A POINT OF LAND EXTENDING INTO THE LAKE, AND RECEIVED DAMAGE TO THE FLOATS AND WING LIFT STRUTS. (.4) THE SEAPLANE STRUCK A POINT OF LAND DURING STEP TAXI FOR TAKEOFF. THE PILOT TOLD THE NTSB INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE THAT HE WAS TAKING OFF INTO THE SUN, AND WAS PARTIALLY BLINDED. HE SAID HE MISJUDGED HIS LOCATION IN THE LAKE, AND DID NOT SEE THE POINT OF LAND IN HIS TAKEOFF PATH.(-23) DURING STEP TAXI ON DEPARTURE FROM HONEY BEE LAKE, THE PILOT WAS TEMPORARILY BLINDED BY THE SUN AND FAILED TO AVOID A KNOWN SHALLOW OBSTRUCTION  (-23) EXTENDING FROM A POINT OF LAND. WHEN THE RIGHT FLOAT STRUCK THE OBSTRUCTION, THE RIGHT FLOAT STRUTS AND THE RIGHT WING STRUTS BUCKLED AND DROPPED THE RIGHT WING INTO THE WATER.

## 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 ANC98LA144](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA144), Sep 9, 1998: Piper PA-11 (N30961), Willow, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area from the lake. Factors were the obstruction (point of land) hidden in the glare from the rising sun.

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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