SIAI-MARCHETTI SM 1019

Full Narrative

The pilot of the float-equipped airplane reported that, while taking off from a lake, the airplane accelerated, became airborne, and about 40 ft above the water, he retracted the flaps. The airplane pitched down and the left wing dropped. He attempted to correct to no avail and the airplane impacted the water.

The pilot reported that he believed P factor caused the left roll because the airplane was aerodynamically stalling and would not correct, despite his attempts.

The pilot reported that he had accrued 5 hours in the airplane make and model, 2 hours of which occurred in the preceding 30 days.

The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage and both wings.

The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

The pilot reported that, it was a very windy, gusty day, and the wind varied in direction. An airport's automated weather observation station, located 15 miles west, reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 300° at 14 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The airplane was departing to the south.