N6544H

Safety history

• June 9, 1985Accident

  THE PLT ATTEMPT TO TAKE THE FLOAT PLANE ACROSS A LAKE IN WIND THAT WAS FROM 270 DEG AT 20 GUSTING 40 KTS. SUBSEQUENTLY, THE ACFT CAPSIZED & WAS DAMAGED. IN A REVISED STATEMENT, THE PLT REPORTED THAT HE WAS 'SAILING' (LETTING THE WIND BLOW THE ACFT) ACROSS THE LAKE FOR MOORING WITHOUT THE ENG RUNNING; BUT WHEN WINDS THREATENED TO CAUSE LOSS OF CONTROL, HE STARTED THE ENG BY PROPPING IT. HE SAID THAT AS HE SHIFTED HIS POSITION FROM THE FLOAT BACK TO THE COCKPIT, THE WIND CAUGHT A WING & TURNED THE

  Piper J-3

• September 2, 1982Accident

  TAKEOFF WAS FROM SE END OF A LAKE ABOUT 4,000 FT LONG (SE TO NW) WITH A SMALL ISLAND IN THE CENTER. THE PLT STATED THAT AFTER LIFT-OFF HE OBTAINED CLIMB SPEED BUT THE ACFT WOULD NOT CLIMB FROM ABOUT 20-30 FT ABOVE THE WATER. SEVERE TURBULENCE WAS ENCOUNTERED & THE ACFT DRIFTED INTO THE TREES ON THE ISLAND. THE PLT INDICATED THAT A TAKEOFF TO THE EASTOF THE ISLAND WOULD HAVE BEEN MORE ADVANTAGEOUS, BUT A BOAT WAS LOCATED BETWEEN THE ISLAND & THE EASTERN SHORE OF THE LAKE. THE ACFT WAS ABOUT 20 LB

  Piper J-3C65