- Date
- June 12, 1997, 17:50 local (21:50 UTC)
- Place
- Laconia, NH
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N1105HAeronca S15AC
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 10, 1998
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19970612013829A
- Case key
- 28207
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 a crosswind, which resulted in the loss of aircraft control. A factor in the accident was the gusting winds.
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 pilot was water taxiing the seaplane and performing a magneto check 'on the step.' The pilot said he was completing the run-up phase, and the airspeed was close to lift-off speed, when a gust of wind caught the left wing. The airplane became airborne prematurely, and the wind blew the airplane sideways where it struck trees. The reported wind at the time of the accident was 330 degrees at 11 knots, with gusts to 15 knots. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction with the airplane or engine. The water rudder was found in the down position.
Factual narrative
On June 12, 1997, at 1750 eastern daylight time, N1105H, an Aeronca S15AC floatplane, was substantially damaged when it collided with trees during taxi on a lake near Laconia, New Hampshire. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and a flight plan was not filed. The local, personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector, the pilot reported that while taxiing the airplane downwind, "on the step" position, a gust of wind caught the left wing, and the airplane became airborne prematurely. The airplane struck trees, and came to rest in a marsh adjacent to the lake.
The FAA Inspector said, the pilot was completing his run-up check which included an engine magneto check. The pilot said the airspeed was close to lift off speed, and the wind shifted during the run-up.
The reported winds at the time of the accident were from 330 degrees at 11 knots, with gusts to 15 knots. The pilot reported that there was no mechanical malfunction with the airplane or engine. Examination of the wreckage revealed that the water rudder was found in the down position.
Several attempts were made to contact the pilot both by telephone, and by mail. He did not return the pilot/operator report that was mailed to him.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1105H
- Reported as
- Aeronca S15AC
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 15AC-125
- Engine
- Continental C-145-2, 145 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Alan Dexter Emerson
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- NONE · NH
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
- 53
- Certificates
- Commercial, Flight instructor
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 15,000 total
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 330° at 11 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 54 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- LCI
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.