Taylorcraft F21 N2005E

Summary

On 3 September 2012 at about 00:00 local time, a Taylorcraft F21 registered N2005E, operated by Long Stephen W, was involved in an accident near Willow, Alaska, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

3 September 2012 at 00:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Willow, Alaska, United States

Nearest airport

Willow Seaplane (2X2)

Coordinates

61.7394, -150.0367

Aircraft

Taylorcraft F21

Registration

N2005E

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Long Stephen W

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Willow → Seymore Lake

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ANC12LA096

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane after a loss of engine power during takeoff due to carburetor ice.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

During takeoff from a lake in a float-equipped airplane, the pilot said the airplane became airborne, but the engine began to lose power. The pilot said that he did not think the airplane would clear the trees at the end of the lake, so he started a right turn to stay over the water. As he steepened the turn, the airplane stalled and impacted the lake. The pilot said the outside temperature was about 55 degrees Fahrenheit and that it was raining. He reported that the more he thought about the circumstances, the more he believed that the loss of power was the result of carburetor ice. The weather conditions at the time of the accident were conducive to serious icing conditions at any engine power setting. No preaccident mechanical problems that would have precluded normal operation were reported.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.