ANC00TA075

The private pilot reported he was attempting to depart to the northeast against the river current. The wind varied from 270 degrees to 320 degrees at 15 knots. He indicated that as the airplane reached flying speed, the wind shifted to a tailwind, and the airplane did not climb. The pilot stated he was unable to turn the airplane to follow the river, both floats struck the riverbank, and the airplane came to rest on the adjacent airport runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both float attach fittings, and the fuselage.

On June 22, 2000, at 1645 Alaska daylight time, a Piper PA-18 float equipped airplane, N7059, sustained substantial damage during takeoff from the Quinhagak Seaplane Base, Quinhagak, Alaska. The solo private pilot received no injuries. The public use flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 by the State of Alaska, Department of Fish and Wildlife Protection. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a company flight plan was filed.

The pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge (IIC) during a telephone interview on June 26, and wrote in his NTSB Pilot/Operator report, that the wind varied from 270 degrees to 320 degrees at 15 knots. He stated he was taking off to the northeast on the Kanektok River, upriver against the current, with a left crosswind. He indicated that as the airplane reached flying speed, the wind shifted to a tailwind, and the airplane did not climb. The pilot stated he was unable to turn the airplane to follow the river, both floats struck the riverbank, and the airplane came to rest on the Quinhagak Airport runway. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both float attach fittings, and the fuselage.