20210804015969A

Wednesday August 4, 2021 at 5:08 pm local time a woman was hit by a small plane while kayaking on the willamette river in yamhill county.

The aircraft had just taken off from the lower lambert, a gravel bar along the willamette river between dayton and the wheatland ferry west of woodburn. The aircraft is a J3 Piper cub, the registration is N6018H.

The private pilot and passenger departed from the twin oaks airpark (7S3) and landed on the gravel bar. The pilot and passenger went for a short swim. Prior to takeoff the pilot considered the high humidity and high temperature. The pilot chose to take off uphill to the south west, up river. The pilot is experienced in taking off from gravel bars along the river. The pilot reported that he has landed and taken off from the lower lambert bar at least 50 times.

The pilot did not see the kayakers. After takeoff the occupant reported to the pilot that they had hit a kayaker. The pilot landed the aircraft on the other side of the river on another gravel bar and assisted with the recovery of the kayaker.

The kayakers were coming around a bend in the river when the main wheel struck the kayaker according to the yamhill county sheriff who was one of the first responders. As the kayaker was being interviewed by an officer she recalled turning around to help her mother. Her mother was trying to navigate the strong current and had hit a log that tipped her kayak over. While turning her kayak around to help her mother she noticed the plane at that time, but there was nothing she could do to get out of the way at that point. She believes that it was one of the large front tires that had hit her in the head. A 911 call from the kayakers initiated her recovery by a fire department rescue patrol boat.

After the kayaker was struck by the plane it knocked her out of the kayak and she began to float downriver. The pilot repositioned the plane on the opposite side of the river and the passenger swam across the river to help her. The passenger was able to get the kayaker to the edge of the river and apply pressure with a shirt to her bleeding head.

When the kayaker was struck by the plane she was thrown from her kayak and sustained further injuries to her leg. She was prepared for transport by the first responders and then transported to the hospital by ambulance. She has undergone surgeries for her leg because her right femur was shattered just above the knee. She also received 20 plus staples to close the large gash on her head.

The reporting officer spoke to the pilot and did not notice any abnormalities or indication of him being impaired in any way. The pilot reported that he felt normal and had no health issues. He reported that he did not consume alcohol or illegal drugs.

The pilot reported taking off uphill and stated that a downhill takeoff would have allowed the aircraft to climb out better. The reporting officer noticed that the wind was light but that the aircraft took off in the direction of the wind which would have been a slight tail wind.

The pilot was unable to provide his pilot certificate or government picture id to the responding officer because he reported that he had left his wallet at home. This is not in compliance with 14 CFR part 61.3 (a) (1) and (2).

Because the pilot took off uphill with a slight tailwind not being able to climb out without holding the aircraft over the water in ground effect thereby hitting a kayaker the pilot operated in a careless or reckless operation which is noncompliant with 14 CFR 91.13.

The pilot has been very cooperative with both the FAA and local law enforcement.

Because the pilot has no previous accident, incident or enforcement history I recommend compliance action in the form of counseling.

Compliance program brochure and pilot?s bill of rights sent to the pilot via email 09/17/2021.