20030914026499A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Piper PA-18-150 · Iliamna, AK · September 14, 2003

Date: September 14, 2003 · 17:00 local
Place: Iliamna, AK
Phase of flight: Takeoff Ground Roll
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N3795Z
NTSB investigation: NTSBANC03LA115
Reported as: Piper PA18150
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Pilot’s flight hours: 6,436 total61 in this make and model22 in the last 90 days

N3795ZRegistered now · Piper PA-18-150S/N 18-7486 · Built 1960 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) Mr. Dieffenderfer reported he was departing a small lake to reposition to a larger lake. He stated that as he applied takeoff power, the left wing was immediately lifted by the prevailing gusty winds. He immediately applied opposite aileron, however the airplane continued to roll to the right. The right wing subsequently contacted the water surface, and the airplane rolled forward and over.

As the FAA filed it

(-23) MR. DIEFFENDERFER REPORTED HE WAS DEPARTING A SMALL LAKE TO REPOSITION TO A LARGER LAKE. HE STATED THAT AS HE APPLIED TAKEOFF POWER, THE LEFT WING WAS IMMEDIATELY LIFTED BY THE PREVAILING GUSTY WINDS. HE IMMEDIATELY APPLIED OPPOSITE AILERON, HOWEVER THE AIRPLANE CONTINUED TO ROLL TO THE RIGHT. THE RIGHT WING SUBSEQUENTLY CONTACTED THE WATER SURFACE, AND THE AIRPLANE ROLLED FORWARD AND OVER.

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 ANC03LA115Accident · Minor injuriesLimited investigationFinal reportIliamna, AKThe pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during the takeoff run, which resulted in the airplane nosing over in the water. Factors contributing to the accident were wind gusts, and the pilot's inadequate evaluation of the wind conditions.Sep 15, 2003 · Substantial damage