N9359E

On July 14, 2000, about 1930 Alaska daylight time, a float equipped Aeronca 11BC airplane, N9359E, sustained substantial damage to the left wing during a takeoff from Three Mile Lake, about 12 miles south of Wasilla, Alaska, at 61 degrees, 28 minutes north latitude, 149 degrees, 45 minutes west longitude. The personal flight was being conducted under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The solo airline transport pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight originated from Fire Lake, Chugiak, Alaska, about 1900.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on July 14, witnesses reported the airplane had performed two landings prior to the accident. The witnesses described the airplane departing a third time, climbing just above the level of the trees, "doing a u-turn, and dropping straight down into the lake." The witnesses said they heard engine noise until the impact.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board investigator-in-charge on July 17, the pilot said he took off on the long axis of the lake with a right crosswind. He said he turned the airplane left, the airplane's nose dropped, and the airplane impacted the water in a nose low, upright, attitude. The pilot wrote in NTSB Pilot/Operator Accident Report that the engine had a partial power loss, which may have been attributable to carburetor icing. He also stated there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane, and that he did not use carburetor heat.

The ambient air temperature at the time of the accident was 56 degrees Fahrenheit; the dew point was 45 degrees Fahrenheit.