N4BZ – DIEHL WILLIAM A S-4 – 2008-09-05 NTSB Accident Report

On September 05, 2008, a Diehl William A S-4 (N4BZ) was involved in an incident near Galena, AK. All 1 person aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's failure to maintain pitch control of the airplane during takeoff, and the pilot's inadequate preflight inspection of the airplane.

The solo private pilot of the float-equipped airplane, was taking off from a remote lake for a personal flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91. According to the pilot of the helicopter that recovered the airplane, the accident pilot told him that he was taking off from the lake, and the airplane would not come up on step. He told the helicopter pilot that he didn't think he had pumped all the water out of the floats prior to takeoff, and that during the takeoff roll he lost control, and the airplane impacted the water. The helicopter pilot said there was substantial damage to the wings, fuselage, and empennage. The pilot did not complete an NTSB accident report form as requested.

This incident is documented in NTSB report ANC08CA118. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N4BZ.