# NTSB ANC98LA113: Aeronca 15AC, N1083H, Kodiak, AK, July 31, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 31, 1998, 13:31 local (21:31 UTC) - Place: Kodiak, AK - Coordinates: 57.789112, -152.400665 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=57.7891&lon=-152.4007&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 2, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 43544 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA113 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43544/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA113 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadequate weather evaluation and compensation for wind conditions. Factors associated with the accident are wind gusts, a sudden windshift to a tailwind, the pilot's failure to abort the takeoff, and an inadvertent stall/mush. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight encounter with weather, takeoff - roll/run - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - weather condition - sudden windshift (contributing factor) - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - weather evaluation - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (cause) - Overrun, takeoff - roll/run - lift-off - premature, pilot in command (contributing factor) - aborted takeoff - not performed, pilot in command (contributing factor) - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - roll/run - stall/mush - inadvertent, pilot in command (contributing factor) - In flight collision with object, takeoff - initial climb - object - building(nonresidential) ## Analysis The seaplane was taking off in variable direction, gusty crosswinds. According to the pilot, the initial headwind shifted to a crosswind, and then a tailwind during the 2,100 feet long takeoff water run. The pilot indicated that the airplane became airborne, and settled back to the water, with insufficient distance to stop. The pilot said he lifted the airplane off the water again, but the airplane lost altitude and airspeed, and struck an unoccupied shed in the departure path. He stated he should have taken off in the opposite direction, or delayed the departure until the winds had stabilized. ## Factual narrative On July 31, 1998, at 1331 Alaska daylight time, an Aeronca 15AC, float equipped airplane, N1083H, sustained substantial damage when it collided with an unoccupied storage shed during takeoff from the Lily Lake Seaplane Base, Kodiak, Alaska. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. The flight was operated by Cub Air, of Kodiak, under 14 CFR Part 91 as a positioning flight to pick up passengers. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and a company flight plan was filed. The pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge on July 31, 1998, that the gusty crosswinds and wind shifting from a headwind to a tailwind forced the plane onto the water without sufficient distance to stop before colliding with an obstacle on the shore of the departure end of Lily Lake. He stated that the engine was operating normally, and that he should have taken off to the northeast, instead of southwest, on the 2,100 feet long by 300 feet wide seadrome. In his Pilot/Operator report, the pilot described the winds shifting from a headwind to a tailwind during the takeoff run. He further stated in this written report that he delayed his departure approximately one hour due to the crosswinds, but should have delayed longer until better, stabilized, winds prevailed. The pilot said that after settling back to the water during the takeoff run, the airplane became airborne again, and while attempting to climb over obstacles, lost altitude and airspeed, and struck a shed in the departure path. Wind conditions at Kodiak International Airport, five miles southwest of the accident site, about the time of the accident, were reported to be from 300 degrees at 12 knots. The pilot described the winds at Lily Lake to be variable, at 10 knots gusting to 20 knots. The runway for the Kodiak Municipal Airport is located at the immediate northeast end of the lake. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1083H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1083H), registered now, S/N 15AC-102, built 1948 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aeronca 15AC - Registry model: [Aeronca S15AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-s15ac) (registry code 0191204) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental C145 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-c145-series) (registry code 17012, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15AC-102 - Airframe hours: 6894 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Positioning, Part 91 - Registered owner: Burdette J. Lechner - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: 100 hour, June 1, 1998, 73 hours before - Departed: 9Z3, AK - Destination: T44, TRIDENT BASIN, AK - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: 9Z3, Kodiak Lily Lake Seaplane, runway 20, 2,100 × 300 ft, water ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 11,718 total, 1,511 in this make and model, 10,718 as pilot in command, 151 in the last 90 days, 62 in the last 30 days, 7 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 12 knots, gusting 20 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: ADQ, 5 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 19980731019159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980731019159A), Jul 31, 1998: Aronca 15AC, Kodiak, AK, Substantial damage. After liftoff windshift caused floatplane settle onto water. Drifting tried again. Hit wires and shed on shore. (From .4) the seaplane was taking off in… ## Other investigations on N1083H (1) 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. - [NTSB CHI74DEP46](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI74DEP46), May 26, 1974: Aeronca 15AC (N1083H), St Germain, WI, substantial damage 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.