# NTSB CHI03LA136: Piper PA-11, N4711U, Minocqua, WI, May 17, 2003 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 17, 2003, 17:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Minocqua, WI - Coordinates: 45.883056, -90.000274 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8831&lon=-90.0003&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Milwaukee, Wisconsin FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 57110 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI03LA136 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/57110/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI03LA136 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to attain a proper climb rate during takeoff. A factor to the accident was the tree. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Miscellaneous/other, takeoff - proper climb rate - not attained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with object, landing - precautionary landing - performed, pilot in command - object - tree(s) (contributing factor) ## Analysis The airplane sustained substantial damage while attempting to takeoff from a lake. According to the pilot, while attempting to takeoff the airplane "failed to climb out of lake at end of cove." The pilot stated he "reduced power and turned to land in a bog/swamp." During the landing approach the left wing strut impacted a tree and the airplane landed hard on the floats. The pilot reported he had flown 5 hours in the same make and model as the accident aircraft, all of which were flown within 24 hours of the accident. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures during the accident flight. ## Factual narrative On May 17, 2003, at 1730 central daylight time, a Piper PA-11, N4711U, piloted by a commercial pilot, sustained substantial damage when it struck a tree while departing Lac Du Flambeau Lake, located near Minocqua, Wisconsin. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being operated under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot and his passenger reported no injuries. According to the pilot's written statement, he had landed on Lac Du Flambeau Lake to refuel, however no fuel was available. The pilot noted the airplane had approximately 8 gallons of fuel remaining and he decided to depart the lake. According to the pilot, while attempting to takeoff, the airplane "failed to climb out of lake at end of cove." The pilot stated he "reduced power and turned to land in a bog/swamp." During the landing approach the left wing strut impacted a tree and the airplane landed hard on the floats. The pilot reported substantial damage to the left wing, a lower fuselage longeron, both wing struts, and both floats. The pilot reported a total flight time of 2,518 hours, of which 1,011 hours were in single-engine airplanes and 1,507 hours were in multiengine airplanes. The pilot reported flying 90 hours within the last 90 days and 41 hours within the last 30 days. The pilot reported he had flown 5 hours in the same make and model as the accident aircraft, all of which were flown within 24 hours of the accident. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures during the accident flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4711U](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4711U), registered now, S/N 11-130 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA-11 - Registry model: [Piper PA-11](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-11) (registry code 7101102) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 11-130 - Airframe hours: 4988.7 - Engines: Continental C-85-12F 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jeffery P. Russell - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 15, 2003, 4 hours before - Departed: 4P5, Minocqua, WI - Destination: 06B, Lucky Landing, ME - Airport: 4P5, Lac Du Flambeau Lake ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; private, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; last flight review July 15, 2002; seat: front; flight hours: 2,518 total, 5 in this make and model, 1,091 as pilot in command, 90 in the last 90 days, 41 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.03 inHg - Observed at: KARV, 8 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 20030517010919A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20030517010919A), May 17, 2003: Piper PA11, Lac Du Flambeau, WI, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot and one passenger departed Flambeau lake (approximately 1 mile southwest of Lac Du Flambeau, WI) to the south. After the aircraft became airborne,… 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.