# Accident 19990911025419A: Amtr S4, Anchorage, AK, September 11, 1999 - Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported - Date: September 11, 1999, 11:14 local time - Place: Anchorage, AK - Airport: Sandlake - Damage: Substantial damage - Phase of flight: To Init Climb(1st Pwr Reduct) - Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91) - Location: 61.1605° N, 149.9900° W: From the FAA, an estimate near the named town, within about 3 miles - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.1605&lon=-149.9900&mi=10 - Aircraft: N4BZ, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4BZ-2013-11-04) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry model: Diehl William A S-4 (registry code 05618K4, https://openairdocs.org/model/diehl-william-a-s-4) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: Lycoming 0-320 series (registry code 41508, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMTR S4 - Reported engine: LYC O320* - People aboard: 1 - Fatal injuries: 0 - Pilot flight hours: 900 total, 33 in this make and model - NTSB investigation: [NTSB ANC99LA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA143) (OpenAirDocs) - FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/) - Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/19990911025419A ## Narrative As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^. 19) ON SEPTEMBER 11, 1999, ABOUT 1145 ALASKA DAYLIGHT TIME, A FLOAT EQUIP PED HOMEBUILT/EXPERIEMENTAL WILLIAM DIEHL, INTERSTATE S-4 AIRPLANE, N4BZ, SUSTAINED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE WHILE TAKING OFF FROM A PRIVATE LAKE, AT ANCHORAGE, ALASKA. THE AIRPLANE WAS BEING OPERATED AS A VISUAL FLIGHT RULES (VFR) LOCAL AREA PERSONAL FLIGHT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. THE AIRPLANE WAS OPERATED BY THE PILOT. THE PRIVATE CERTIFICATED PILOT, THE SOLE OCCUPANT, WAS NOT INJURED. VISUAL METEOROLOGICAL CONDITIONS PREVAILED. DURING A TELEPHONE CONVERSATION WITH THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD (NTSB) INVESTIGATOR-IN-CHARGE (IIC), ON SEPTEMBER 13, 1999, THE PILOT REPORTED HE WAS DEPARTING FROM SAND LAKE TOWARD THE EAST. HE BEGAN HIS DEPARTURE FROM A COVE AT THE WWEST END OF THE LAKE. DURING A TAXI TURN TO THE LEFT, THE WATER RUDDERS WERE EXTENDED AND DISPLACED TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT SAID THE WATER RUDDERS ARE STIFF WHEN THEY ARE DEPLOYED. DURING THE TAKE OFF RUN, THE PILOT LEFT THE WATER RUDDERS EXTENDED. WHEN THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE, THE PILOT SAID THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO TURN LEFT, STRUCK A SMALL BOAT DOCK, THE TOP OF A SMALL BOAT, AND THEN COLLIDED WITH TREES ALONG THE EDGE OF THE LAKE. A FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION (FAA) AIRWORTHINESS INSPECTOR, ANCHORAGE FLIGHT STANDARDS DISTRICT OFFICE (FSDO), REPORTED THAT HE INSPECTED THE AIRPLANE AT THE ACCIDENT SCENE. THE AIRPLANE RECEIVED DAMAGE TO THE LEFT WING, THE LEFT WING LIFT STRUT, AND THE LEFT FLOAT. THE INSPECTOR SAID THE DISTANCE FROM THE COVE USED FOR DEPARTURE TO THE DOCK WAS ABOUT 500 FEET. THE DISTANCE FROM THE DOCK TO THE TREES WAS ABOUT 100 FEET. (-23) AIRCRAFT WAS CONFIGURED ON FLOATS. DURING TAKEOFF FROM SAND LAKE, AK (A SMALL LAKE IN EAST ANCHORAGE), MR. KYZER LOST CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT AND STRUCK A SMALL BOAT DOCK, THEN A SMALL RECREATIONAL BOAT, AND SUBSEQUENTLY A STAND OF TREES ALONG THE LAKE EDGE. SEVERE DAMAGE OCCURED TO THE FLOATS AND TO THE LEFT WING OF THE AIRCRAFT. (.4) THE PILOT WAS TAKING OFF FROM A PRIVATE LAKE IN A HOMEBUILT/EXPERIMENTAL FLOAT EQUIPPED AIRPLANE. WHILE WAITING FOR A DEPARTURE CLEARANCE, HE WAS TAXIING IN A TIGHT LEFT TURN IN A COVE LOCATED AT THE WEST END OF THE LAKE. THE WATER RUDDERS WERE EXTENDED AND DISPLACED TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT SAID THE WATER RUDDERS ARE STIFF WHEN THEY ARE DEPLOYED. AFTER RECEIVING HIS CL EARANCE, HE BEGAN HIS DEPARTURE FROM THE COVE. DURING THE TAKEOFF RUN, HE LEFT THE WATER RUDDERS EXTENDED. WHEN THE AIRPLANE BECAME AIRBORNE, HE SAID THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO TURN LEFT. HE WAS UNABLE TO PREVENT THE AIRPLANE FROM COLLIDING WITH A SMALL BOAT DOCK, AND THE TOP OF A SMALL BOAT. THE AIRPLANE THEN COLLIDED WITH TREES ALONG THE EDGE OF THE LAKE. AN FAA INSPECTOR SAID THE DISTANCE FROM THE COVE USED FOR DEPARTURE TO THE DOCK WAS ABOUT 500 FEET. THE DISTANCE FROM THE DOCK TO THE TREES WAS ABOUT 100 FEET. IN THE PILOT/OPERATOR REPORT (NTSB FORM 6120.1/2) SUBMITTED BY THE PILOT, HE STATED, IN PART: '...AT ROTATION, COULD NOT CONTROL P-FACTOR OF ENGINE WITH MAX RIGHT RUDDER.' THE PILOT ALSO INDICATED THERE WAS NO MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION/FAILURE. ## 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 ANC99LA143](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC99LA143), Sep 11, 1999: Diehl Interstate S-4 (N4BZ), Anchorage, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's inadequate planning/decision, and his failure to maintain directional control of the airplane. Factors in the accident were a short runway/lake area for departure, and the pilot's… ## Other reports on N4BZ (1) Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date. - [Accident 20080905850739A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080905850739A), Sep 5, 2008: Diehlw S4 (N4BZ), AK, Substantial damage. (-23) [privacy data omitted] [privacy data omitted] pilot attempted takeoff during calm conditions. Pilot was able to lift only one float from water. Pilot… 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.