- Date
- May 14, 1996, 14:35 local (22:35 UTC)
- Place
- Big Lake, AK
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N5760DPiper PA-18-150
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report September 19, 1996
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19960514010449A
- Case key
- 2841
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
the pilot's improper planning/decision, which resulted in his failure (or inability) to maintain clearance from trees after encountering gusty crosswind conditions. The wind condition and close proximity of trees were related factors.
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 reported he had just changed his airplane's main landing gear configuration from wheels to floats. He said he was taking off to the west from a creek which entered a large lake. He estimated the wind was from the northwest at 10 to 12 knots as he began the takeoff run. Shortly after becoming airborne, he said a gust of wind, estimated at 30 knots or more, caused the right wing to lift and turn the airplane toward trees, which lined the creek bank. The pilot was able to level the airplane's wings, but was unable to turn away from the trees. Subsequently, the airplane collided with the trees and a small boat that rested in front of a lakeside home.
Factual narrative
On May 14, 1996, about 1435 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Piper PA-18-150 airplane, N5760D, sustained substantial damage when it collided with trees during takeoff from Fish Creek, near Big Lake, Alaska. The solo private pilot was not injured. The local, 14 CFR Part 91 flight operated in visual meteorological conditions without a flight plan.
The pilot reported he had just converted his airplane from wheels to floats, and was departing to the west, from Fish Creek towards the juncture of Fish Creek and Big Lake. He estimated the wind as 10 to 12 knots from the northwest. Shortly after liftoff, he said a wind gust estimated at 30 knots, lifted the right wing and caused the airplane to turn left, toward adjacent trees. He said he was unable to correct quickly enough to avoid the trees, and the airplane subsequently struck trees located in front of a lakeside residence. The pilot said a small boat located near the crash site also received some damage.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5760D
- Reported as
- Piper PA-18-150
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18-5262
- Engine
- Lycoming O-320-A1, 150 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- John W. Reed
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
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
- Seat
- Front
- Flight hours
- 2,200 total · 2,000 in this make and model · 2,100 as pilot in command · 30 in the last 90 days · 10 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 12 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility
- 50 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 63 °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 N5760D · 2
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.