# NTSB ANC00LA089: Aeronca 11BC, N9359E, Wasilla, AK, July 15, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 14, 2000, 19:30 local (Jul 15, 2000, 03:30 UTC) - Place: Wasilla, AK - Location: 61.5785° N, 149.4763° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Wasilla, AK, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.5785&lon=-149.4763&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 49706 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC00LA089 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49706/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC00LA089 ## Probable cause A loss of engine power due to the pilot's failure to use carburetor heat, and an inadvertent stall. A factor associated with the accident was the existence of carburetor icing conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - nonmechanical, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - carburetor icing conditions (contributing factor) - carburetor heat - not used, pilot in command (cause) - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The pilot reported he took off on the long axis of the lake with a right crosswind. As he turned to the left, the airplane descended rapidly and struck the water in a nose low, upright, attitude. Witnesses reported the seaplane had performed two landings prior to the accident. They described the airplane departing a third time, climbing just above the level of the trees, doing a 'u-turn,' and dropping into the lake. They said they heard engine noise until impact. The pilot stated there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane, but he did note a partial loss of engine power, which he indicated might have been caused by carburetor icing. He stated he did not use carburetor heat. The ambient air temperature was 56 degrees Fahrenheit, and the dew point was 45 degrees Fahrenheit. ## Factual narrative On July 14, 2000, about 1930 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Aeronca 11BC airplane, N9359E, sustained substantial damage to the left wing during a takeoff from Three Mile Lake, about 12 miles south of Wasilla, Alaska, at 61 degrees, 28 minutes north latitude, 149 degrees, 45 minutes west longitude. The personal flight was being conducted under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo airline transport pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Fire Lake, Chugiak, Alaska, about 1900. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on July 14, witnesses reported the airplane had performed two landings prior to the accident. The witnesses described the airplane departing a third time, climbing just above the level of the trees, "doing a u-turn, and dropping straight down into the lake." The witnesses said they heard engine noise until the impact. During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on July 17, the pilot said he took off on the long axis of the lake with a right crosswind. He said he turned the airplane left, the airplane's nose dropped, and the airplane impacted the water in a nose low, upright, attitude. The pilot wrote in NTSB Pilot/Operator Accident Report that the engine had a partial power loss, which may have been attributable to carburetor icing. He also stated there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane, and that he did not use carburetor heat. The ambient air temperature at the time of the accident was 56 degrees Fahrenheit; the dew point was 45 degrees Fahrenheit. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9359E](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9359E-2018-01-30), registration cancelled 2018-01-30, S/N 11AC-995, built 1946 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aeronca 11BC - Registry model: [Aeronca 11AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-11ac) (registry code 0191102) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 995 - Airframe hours: 2079 - Engines: Continental C-85 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Dean P. Eisberg - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 16, 2000 - Departed: FIRE LAKE, AK - Destination: THREE MILE LAKE, AK - Airport: Three Mile Lake, runway 28, 6,000 × 0 ft, water ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 41; commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 4,184 total, 96 in this make and model, 2,816 as pilot in command, 19 in the last 90 days, 7 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 10 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20000714042289A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000714042289A), Jul 14, 2000: Bbavia 11AC, Threemilelake, AK, Substantial damage. (-23) On July 14, 2000, a float equipped Aeronca 11AC registered to and piloted by dean p. eisberg, was involved in an aircraft accident on 3 mile lake,… 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. --- 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.