# NTSB ANC14CA061: Aviat A 1, N400HU, Ketchikan, AK, July 26, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 26, 2014, 12:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Ketchikan, AK - Coordinates: 55.5, -130.630004 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=55.5000&lon=-130.6300&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 89825 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC14CA061 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89825/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89825 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC14CA061 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to takeoff from a remote mountain lake in variable wind. Contributing to the accident was the pilots delayed decision to abort the takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=2210302), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Wind: variable wind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Decision related to condition (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md?model=2210302), [All aircraft, 113 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034025/cases.md) - [Action: delayed action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md?model=2210302), [All aircraft, 894 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Aviat A-1, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2210302), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Takeoff-rejected takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Aviat A-1, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2210302), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was departing from a remote mountain lake in an amphibious float-equipped airplane. Prior to departure he observed the wind out of the east, and began his takeoff run in an easterly direction. He stated that the airplane was slow to accelerate and unstable once on the step. He closed the throttle and aborted the takeoff, the airplane immediately yawed to the right, he applied left rudder and deployed the water rudders in an effort to correct for the yaw, but the right wing impacted a tree and swung the airplane into the shoreline. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and right lift strut. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. While awaiting rescue, the pilot noted that the wind reversed direction about the center of the lake, and he may have encountered a tailwind during the takeoff run. In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the pilot stated that the accident may have been avoided if he had made the decision to abort the takeoff sooner. ## Factual narrative The pilot was departing from a remote mountain lake in an amphibious float-equipped airplane. Prior to departure he observed the wind out of the east, and began his takeoff run in an easterly direction. He stated that the airplane was slow to accelerate and unstable once on the step. He closed the throttle and aborted the takeoff, the airplane immediately yawed to the right, he applied left rudder and deployed the water rudders in an effort to correct for the yaw, but the right wing impacted a tree and swung the airplane into the shoreline. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and right lift strut. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. While awaiting rescue, the pilot noted that the wind reversed direction about the center of the lake, and he may have encountered a tailwind during the takeoff run. In the recommendation section of the NTSB Accident/Incident Reporting Form 6120.1, the pilot stated that the accident may have been avoided if he had made the decision to abort the takeoff sooner. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N400HU](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N400HU-2018-05-30), registration cancelled 2018-05-30, S/N 1346, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC A 1 (UNDESIGNAT) - Registry model: [Aviat A-1](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1) (registry code 2210400) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1346 - Year built: 1997 - Airframe hours: 1200 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360-A1D 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Wild Bills Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Wild Bills Aviation Inc - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 15, 2014 - Departed: Ketchikan, AK - Destination: Ketchikan, AK - Equipment: Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 59; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review February 20, 2014; seat: front; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,180 total, 350 in this make and model, 2,740 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days, 58 in the last 30 days, 10 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 16 knots - Visibility: 3 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,200 ft broken - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: PAKT, 39 nm away ## 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 20140726015499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140726015499A), Jul 26, 2014: Aviat Aircraft Inc A-1, Little Goat Lak, AK, Substantial damage. On July 26, 2014, at 1230 Alaska daylight time, a Aviat A-1 husky, N400HU, impacted trees after the pilot aborted a crosswind takeoff. This happened at Little… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 7, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89825. 391 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 391 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417439&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF 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.