Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot in command's inadequate preflight planning and preparation. A factor in the accident was the pilot's lack of familiarity with the particular aircraft's performance.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The pilot, who had 5 hours experience in make/model, misjudged the length of takeoff run needed by his newly-acquired float plane. Aborting the takeoff attempt, the pilot elected to ditch in a swamp at the end of the lake.
Source record
Factual narrative
On August 8, 1993, at approximately 1245 Alaska daylight time, a float-equipped Stinson 108-2, with a 190 horsepower conversion, N97978, crashed on takeoff from an unnamed lake, approximately 50 miles west of Anchorage, Alaska. The accident location is near Skwentna. The airline transport rated pilot, operating under 14 CFR Part 91, personal, was departing the 2000 foot lake, with one passenger. Visual conditions existed and no flight plan was filed. Neither occupant were injured, however the airplane was substantially damaged. The pilot told the NTSB and the FAA that he had about 5 hours experience in the airplane since purchase and about 100 hours on floats in a Champion airplane. He said the airplane seemed to be performing normally, but that he misjudged the length of takeoff run required and that "it just wouldn't fly, and I put it in the swamp at the end of the lake". The pilot described the damage to include a bent spar in the right wing, damaged floats, and leading edge damage on the left wing. A small fire in the engine compartment was reportedly extinguished by the pilot after the crash. -