- Date
- July 20, 1997, 11:30 local (19:30 UTC)
- Place
- Nikiski, AK
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Initial climb
- Aircraft
- N4356HGoode Avid Flyer MK-IV
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 10, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- FAA report
- 19970720018979A
- Case key
- 3031
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 inadequate compensation for wind conditions. Factors were the sudden windshift, and the pilot's lack of seaplane certification.
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 experimental seaplane was unable to maintain a climb sufficient to clear trees at the end of the lake when the headwind shifted to a gusty crosswind. The pilot intentionally landed hard onto the water to avoid trees which were located on the shoreline. The floats separated from the airplane at impact. The pilot did not hold a seaplane rating.
Factual narrative
On July 20, 1997, at 1130 Alaska daylight time, an Avid Flyer float equipped airplane, N4356H, impacted the water during takeoff from Parsons Lake, Alaska, 10 miles northeast of Nikiski, Alaska. The airplane sustained substantial damage. The private certificated pilot and single passenger were uninjured. The experimental airplane was manufactured and operated by Audie D. Goode of Nikiski, Alaska. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 as a personal flight, and visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident.
The pilot stated that after takeoff, the wind shifted from a headwind to a gusting crosswind, and the airplane could not maintain a climb. He stated that he intentionally landed back onto the water when it became apparent he would not clear trees which were located on the shoreline. The airplane landed hard, and both floats separated from the airplane. The cabin doors were unable to be opened, and both occupants exited through the broken Lexan roof.
The pilot did not have a seaplane rating.
The Alaska State Trooper who responded to the accident site stated that the winds were observed changing direction as he walked around the lake.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N4356H
- Reported as
- Goode Avid Flyer MK-IV (AVID FLYER)
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 1093D
- Airframe hours
- 97
- Engine
- Rotax 582-UL, 65 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Audie D. Goode
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 22, 1997 · 6 hours before
- Departed
- Parsons Lake, AK
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
- 50
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, Expired
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 179 total · 38 in this make and model · 166 as pilot in command · 8 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Variable at 8 knots
- Visibility
- 70 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 20,000 ft broken
- Temperature
- 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- ENA, 11 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.