CHI99LA353

After takeoff from a lake into the wind, the aircraft began a left turn over the lake shore and then descended during the turn until collision with the lake's surface. The pilot said: "The downward wind coming over hill and trees caused my loss of lift, then after turning left and stalling the left wing caused the crash."

On September 26, 1999, at 1535 central daylight time (cdt), a Luscombe 8A float equipped aircraft, N65353, piloted by a private pilot, was substantially damaged when it collided with the surface of a lake following a pilot-described stall-mush that occurred during the airplane's initial climb out after takeoff. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and passenger reported minor injuries. The flight was operated as a 14 CFR Part 91 flight and the pilot had filed a VFR flight plan, but did not activate it. The flight was departing from the Devil's Track Lake near Gran Marais, Minnesota, at 1535 cdt.

According to witnesses, the wind on the lake's surface was coming from the north-northwest. They said the airplane took off into the wind and began a left turn over trees along the lake's shore. They said the airplane descended during the turn until it collided with the lake's surface.

The pilot stated in his written pilot statement: "Lift off was fine. Leveled to gain airspeed of 70 mph. Raise nose to continue to climb out 70-75. At 100 to 150 AGL I could sense plane settling some. I chose to bank and turn left down the Lake rather than chance the trees and hill...The downward wind coming over hill and trees caused my loss of lift, then after turning left and stalling the left wing caused the crash."