On August 21, 1985, a Piper PA-18-95 (registration N3287Z) was involved in an aviation accident near Millinocket, ME. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during takeoff in gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in a stall. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A seaplane stalled shortly after liftoff from South Twin Lake when a wind gust lifted the nose and wing, causing it to return to the water with damage.
What happened
The pilot reported that he was departing from South Twin Lake in winds from 270 degrees at 12 knots, gusting to 20 knots. After the aircraft lifted off the water, he initiated a slight turn. At approximately that moment, a wind gust simultaneously lifted the nose and one wing of the seaplane, causing it to stall. The aircraft subsequently touched down on the lake surface and sustained damage.
Findings
The pilot was operating in crosswind conditions with significant gusts during the initial climb phase. The aerodynamic forces generated by the wind gust exceeded the aircraft's lift capacity at that low altitude and airspeed, leading to an aerodynamic stall before a full climb could be established.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during takeoff in gusty crosswind conditions, which resulted in a stall.
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