- Date
- September 2, 1987, 13:05 local (21:05 UTC)
- Place
- Kwethluk, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N7233KPiper PA-18
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report May 27, 1988
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19870902060389A
- Case key
- 4901
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that he was flying a search and rescue mission for a missing aircraft when he noticed that his airspeed indicator was not working. He landed on a lake in gusty wind conditions to correct the problem. During the ensuing takeoff attempt, a gust of wind lifted the left wing and the right wing contacted the water, causing the airplane to nose over. Pilot stated he would not have flown in wind conditions except that the mission was to help search for fellow pilot.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N7233K
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-125
- Airframe hours
- 2,600
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Aerial observation · Part 91
- Operator
- Everett F Prince
- Registered owner
- Everett F. Prince
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- 100 hour · July 15, 1987
- Flight plan
- VFR
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 55
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 479 total · 479 in this make and model · 418 as pilot in command · 7 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 15 knots, gusting 18
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 52 °F
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N7233K · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.