# NTSB ANC98LA144: Piper PA-11, N30961, Willow, AK, September 9, 1998

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: September 9, 1998, 07:50 local (15:50 UTC)
- Place: Willow, AK
- Coordinates: 61.890731, -149.729614 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=61.8907&lon=-149.7296&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 30, 2000
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office
- NTSB case key (mKey): 43914
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC98LA144
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43914/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC98LA144

## Probable cause

The pilot's selection of an unsuitable takeoff area from the lake. Factors were the obstruction (point of land) hidden in the glare from the rising sun.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run
  - terrain condition - hidden obstruction(s) (contributing factor)
  - unsuitable terrain or takeoff/landing/taxi area - selected, pilot in command (cause)
  - light condition - sunglare (contributing factor)

## Analysis

The seaplane struck a point of land during step taxi for takeoff. The pilot told the NTSB investigator-in-charge that he was taking off into the sun, and was partially blinded. He said he misjudged his location in the lake, and did not see the point of land in his takeoff path.

## Factual narrative

On September 9, 1998, at 0750 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Piper PA-11 airplane sustained substantial damage when it struck terrain during the takeoff run from Honeybee Lake, two miles south of Willow, Alaska. The solo commercial pilot was not injured. The flight was operated under 14 CFR Part 91, as a personal flight.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and no flight plan was filed.

The pilot told two FAA inspectors who interviewed him at the accident site on September 9, and wrote in his NTSB Pilot / Operator report, that during step taxi for takeoff, while heading into the sun, the airplane struck a point of land extending into the lake. The pilot indicated that the point of land was in the shadow of some trees, and he was partially blinded by the sun. He said he misjudged the airplane's location in the lake. The airplane sustained damage to the floats and wing lift struts.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N30961](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N30961-2012-08-27), registration cancelled 2012-08-27, S/N 11-1377, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Piper PA-11
- Registry model: [Piper PA-11](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-11) (registry code 7101102) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 11-1377
- Airframe hours: 3761
- Engines: Continental 12F 90 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Operator: Kurt W. Stenehjen
- Registered owner: Timothy R. Geiermann
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 13, 1998, 58 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 47; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 288 total, 288 as pilot in command, 30 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 20° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 9,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 45 °F, dew point 45 °F
- Altimeter: 29.00 inHg
- Observed at: TKA, 35 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 19980909022869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980909022869A), Sep 9, 1998: Piper PA11, Willow, AK, Substantial damage. (.19) On September 9, 1998, at 0750 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Piper PA-11 airplane sustained substantial damage when it struck terrain during the…

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.