# NTSB ANC01LA067: Piper PA-18, N4468Z, Minto, AK, June 3, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 3, 2001, 09:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Minto, AK - Coordinates: 65.032218, -148.822494 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=65.0322&lon=-148.8225&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 20, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA-AL-FAI FSDO 01 - NTSB case key (mKey): 52738 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC01LA067 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52738/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC01LA067 ## Probable cause The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, and an excessive descent rate resulting in a hard landing during an aborted takeoff. Factors in the accident were a collision of the airplane's float assembly with an unknown object, and the pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, taxi - to takeoff - object - undetermined (contributing factor) - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause) - landing gear,float assembly - punctured - Hard landing, takeoff - aborted - fuselage,longeron - bent - abort - delayed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - proper descent rate - excessive, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The private certificated pilot was departing a lake in a float-equipped airplane. While preparing to depart the lake, the pilot said he unknowingly punctured the left float during a collision with an unknown object. The float partially filled with water. During the takeoff run, the pilot said the airplane became airborne in ground effect, but would not climb. He aborted the takeoff and the airplane settled on the lake and hit hard. The pilot said he did not think the fuselage was significantly damaged. A postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed that a fuselage longeron was bent about 2 inches, adjacent to the left, aft, float attachment point. A mechanic planned to cut the bent portion of the longeron out of the fuselage and install a repair sleeve. ## Factual narrative On June 3, 2001, about 0900 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Piper PA-18 airplane, N4468Z, sustained substantial damage during an aborted takeoff from a lake, located about 15 miles east of Minto, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country personal flight when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by the pilot. The private certificated pilot, and the sole passenger, were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed. On June 12, 2001, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) was notified by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector from the Fairbanks Flight Standards District Office (FSDO), that the airplane had been damaged. The inspector reported that the pilot departed a lake with water in the airplane floats. The inspector said the airplane became airborne, settled on the surface of the lake, and landed hard. The inspector reported that a fuselage longeron was bent, adjacent to the left, aft, float attachment point. During a telephone conversation with the NTSB IIC, on June 13, the pilot reported that he was departing the lake, and the airplane became airborne in ground effect. The airplane would not climb, and the pilot said he aborted the takeoff. The airplane settled on the lake and hit hard. The pilot said he did not think the fuselage was significantly damaged. He said he unknowingly punctured the left float during a collision with an unkown object while preparing to depart the lake, and the float assembly had partially filled with water. On July 17, 2001, at 1210, during a telephone conversation with the pilot's mechanic, the mechanic reported that in addition to repairing the float, the left fuselage longeron was bent about 2 inches. The mechanic planned to cut the bent portion of the longeron out of the fuselage and install a repair sleeve. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4468Z](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N4468Z-2018-02-14), registration cancelled 2018-02-14, S/N 18-8817, built 1969 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-150) (registry code 7101828) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-8817 - Airframe hours: 2986 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320-A2B 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Terry M. Marquette - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 19, 2001, 12 hours before - Departed: MINTO, AK - Destination: PAFA, FAIRBANKS, AK ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 57; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review May 24, 2001; seat: front; flight hours: 1,083 total, 1,050 in this make and model, 975 as pilot in command, 12 in the last 90 days, 12 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 315° at 15 knots, gusting 25 - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 50 °F ## 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 20010603010949A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010603010949A), Jun 3, 2001: Piper PA18150, Minto, AK, No damage. (-23)Pilot stated 06/04/01 that left float struck blunt object, possibly submerge log, that punctured float. Pilot was unsure whether this occurred during… ## Other investigations on N4468Z (1) 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. - [NTSB ANC07LA106](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC07LA106), Sep 21, 2007: Piper PA-18 (N4468Z), Fairbanks, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's improper use of the carburetor heat control, and his failure to maintain adequate airspeed to preclude a stall. Contributing to the accident was carburetor icing conditions. 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.