Piper PA-18 N4468Z

Summary

On 3 June 2001 at about 17:00 local time, a Piper PA-18 registered N4468Z was involved in an accident near Minto, Alaska, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 June 2001 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Minto, Alaska, United States

Coordinates

65.0322, -148.8225

Aircraft

Piper PA-18

Registration

N4468Z

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Minto → Fairbanks

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC01LA067

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's selection of unsuitable terrain for takeoff, and an excessive descent rate resulting in a hard landing during an aborted takeoff. Factors in the accident were a collision of the airplane's float assembly with an unknown object, and the pilot's delay in aborting the takeoff.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The private certificated pilot was departing a lake in a float-equipped airplane. While preparing to depart the lake, the pilot said he unknowingly punctured the left float during a collision with an unknown object. The float partially filled with water. During the takeoff run, the pilot said the airplane became airborne in ground effect, but would not climb. He aborted the takeoff and the airplane settled on the lake and hit hard. The pilot said he did not think the fuselage was significantly damaged. A postaccident inspection of the airplane revealed that a fuselage longeron was bent about 2 inches, adjacent to the left, aft, float attachment point. A mechanic planned to cut the bent portion of the longeron out of the fuselage and install a repair sleeve.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.