The pilot was attempting to takeoff in the float-equipped Piper PA-18 from a trailer pulled down the runway at the airport in Cadillac, Michigan, by a truck.
He noted there was a direct crosswind from the right at 7 knots.
As the truck’s speed increased, the plane shifted on the trailer and the left float contacted a vertical post that blocked the float from contacting the tire.
As the airplane attempted to depart the trailer, the float chine caught on the trailer and turned the airplane toward the ground. The left wing struck the ground first, followed by the floats, propeller, and right wing.
The pilot sustained minor injuries in the crash.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the float-equipped airplane after the float became caught on the trailer used for takeoff.
To download the final report. Click here. This will trigger a PDF download to your device.
This June 2020 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Is this the best General Aviation News can find to use as an articulate.
GAN should be used to help serious pilots learn from other accidents or bad decisions before they make the same error. This guy is not a pilot whether or not he Carries a license. Looks like GAN looked for the stupidest incident to use to entertain not to learn from. This is not Americas Funniest Videos, quit using these stupid, although entertaining stunts.
Another thing, put the airport and runway identifiers in the article. It is hard to visualize what is going on. I don’t want to work that hard.
Please give your opinions.
Mac. My opinion? This is something a pilot can learn from. Seven knots of direct crosswind, regardless of airport or runway identifiers, made this takeoff a challenge for this pilot. If a pilot reading this thinks they’re proficient in a crosswind, hopefully this will remind them to stay alert and on the controls. As DC notes, this is a fairly common practice. And doubtful it would be taught when a pilot is just learning to fly floats. Lastly, every NTSB accident report or NASA incident report includes a link to the original report for further analysis. Signed, Ben Sclair, Publisher, General Aviation News.
Always something to learn, if nothing else that seaplanes are sometimes launched off of trailers….I have seen it done more than once.
Sorry, I have never heard of taking off from a moving trailer. Is this an approved maneuver for taking off in a float plane? I understand the mechanics of the process just never heard of it being done.
A quick Google search will bring up a number of videos…
I grew up on a residential airpark and watched one of my neighbors do just this thing. While not terribly common, I imagine this process happens often enough that for those in that sub-segment of aviation, there are processes and procedures and checklists.
Laural and Hardy live!
This practice is fairly common and not bad for aviation. You will also routinely see the same aircraft return and land on the grass.
Is this legal? Don’t recall instruction on this when I got my SES.
That’s just stupid bad for Aviation
Hold my beer and watch this!
In Alabama the redneck version is “hold my beer, watch this!”