20030211002239A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-18-150 · Soldotna, AK · February 11, 2003

Date: February 11, 2003 · 11:30 local
Place: Soldotna, AK
Airport: Soldotna
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N4492A
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC03LA027
Reported as: Piper PA18150

N4492ARegistered now · Piper PA-18-150S/N 18-4861 · Built 1956 Airframe modelPiper PA-18-150 Engine modelLycoming 0-320 seriesReciprocating

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.

(-23) A wheel-equipped aircraft attempted to depart longmere lake at Soldotna and flipped over, causing substantial damage. The pilot stated that he was trying to get his aircraft off the lake because the warm temperatures caused it to thaw. There was also standing water on the ice. Pilot stated that he had walked his proposed takeoff path prior to departure, but on takeoff roll the aircraft broke through the ice. Inspector spencer hill arrived at the scene and interviewed the pilot and a witness. The witness stated that the pilot did walk the lake prior to departure. Pilot stated that he either hit a depression or broke through the ice and flipped. One lift strut received substantial damage and inspector hill states that other damage to the aircraft was very minimal.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) A WHEEL-EQUIPPED AIRCRAFT ATTEMPTED TO DEPART LONGMERE LAKE AT SOLDOTNA AND FLIPPED OVER, CAUSING SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE WAS TRYING TO GET HIS AIRCRAFT OFF THE LAKE BECAUSE THE WARM TEMPERATURES CAUSED IT TO THAW. THERE WAS ALSO STANDING WATER ON THE ICE. PILOT STATED THAT HE HAD WALKED HIS PROPOSED TAKEOFF PATH PRIOR TO DEPARTURE, BUT ON TAKEOFF ROLL THE AIRCRAFT BROKE THROUGH THE ICE. INSPECTOR SPENCER HILL ARRIVED AT THE SCENE AND INTERVIEWED THE PILOT AND A WITNESS. THE WITNESS STATED THAT THE PILOT DID WALK THE LAKE PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. PILOT STATED THAT HE EITHER HIT A DEPRESSION OR BROKE THROUGH THE ICE AND FLIPPED. ONE LIFT STRUT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND INSPECTOR HILL STATES THAT OTHER DAMAGE TO THE AIRCRAFT WAS VERY MINIMAL.

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 ANC03LA027Accident · No injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportSoldotna, AKThe pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, and his failure to maintain aircraft control which resulted in a nose over. A factor contributing to the accident was standing puddles of water on the frozen lake.Feb 11, 2003 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N4492A · 1

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

Incident 19860717072799IForced/Precautionary Landing · Kasilof, AKHard landing after power loss on takeoff. Main gear folded. Suspect carburetor ice.Jul 17, 1986 · Minor damage