ANC02LA080

The pilot reported that he was taking off on a 1,000 foot long private gravel strip perpendicular to a river. He said he attempted to takeoff toward the south, but the airplane failed to become airborne in time to clear the obstacles at the end of the runway, and he aborted the takeoff. He attempted a takeoff toward the north, and the airplane lifted off, but failed to climb. He said the runway ended at a 10 to 15 foot high bank that descended into the river, and as the airplane crossed the end of the runway, it settled into the river and nosed over.

On July 17, 2002, about 1800 Alaska daylight time, a wheel-equipped Luscombe 8A airplane, N45796, sustained substantial damage when it collided with water during takeoff from a private airstrip, about 31 miles east of Cordova, Alaska. The airplane was being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules (VFR) personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The private pilot and the passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was bound for the Cordova Municipal Airport, Cordova.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) on July 17, the pilot said the airstrip is gravel, and the departure end is 10 to 15 feet above the Katalla River. He said during takeoff the airplane lifted off the 1,000 foot long runway, and started to climb. As the airplane passed over the end of the runway, it "flew into a sinker," and descended wings level, straight ahead into the river. The pilot said when the main wheels entered the water, the airplane nosed over. He said there were no known mechanical anomalies with the airplane prior to the accident, and reported that the weather at the time of takeoff was clear, unlimited visibility, with light and variable winds. He said the airplane sustained damage to the right wing and aileron during the accident.

During a telephone conversation with the IIC on July 31, an FAA aviation safety inspector said he inspected the airplane and found additional damage to the firewall of the airplane.

In a written statement to the NTSB, the pilot reported that he initially tried to takeoff to the south, but with a 65 horsepower engine, and two people aboard, the airplane did not lift off soon enough to clear the trees at the end of the runway, and he aborted the takeoff. Attempting a takeoff to the north on the same runway, he reported that the airplane lifted off, but would not climb.