ANC93LA129

Just before touchdown, the floatplane's wings rocked several times, then the left wing hit the water. The pilot and a witness said the airplane encountered turbulence from a Dehavilland DHC-2 (beaver) airplane that had landed seconds earlier. The pilot said she landed a normal distance behind the beaver. A witness on the shore said the approach and landing was too fast and too close behind the beaver.

History of flight

On July 31, 1993, at 1853 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Piper PA 18 airplane, N91219, dragged a wing while landing at Lake Hood Seaplane Base, Anchorage, Alaska. The private pilot, the sole occupant, received minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The personal flight, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, departed Monkey Creek Lake, located about 20 miles north of Talkeetna, Alaska, at approximately 1800. Visual meteorological conditions existed, and no flight plan was filed.

Following the accident, during a telephone interview, the pilot stated that when the airplane was about 2 feet above the water, the left wing suddenly dipped down and hit the water. She said she had encountered turbulence from a landing de Havilland DHC 2 Beaver airplane, but thought she had landed a normal distance behind the Beaver. She further said that she had not encountered any turbulence during the approach and landing until just before the wing hit the water.

Additional information

The accident was witnessed by Mr. Robert A. Wallace, 2302 West Tudor Road, #4, Anchorage, Alaska 99507. At the time he was on the shore of the lake. Following the accident, during a telephone interview, he stated the following in part: "I presently fly Boeing 747 airplanes for Japan Airlines. I have about 11,700 total flight hours, including a lot of time in small land and seaplanes. My attention was caught by the PA 18 (N91219) making such a fast nose low approach, and turning in on a very tight base leg. That put it landing closer than normal behind the Beaver, and subsequently getting caught in it's turbulence. The Cub's wings started rocking from the turbulence when it was about 30 to 50 feet above the water. The floats touched down first then the left wing hit the water."