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The
Moose's Revenge.
On September 11th 2000, a float equipped Piper PA-18 sustained substantial
damage during takeoff from a lake, about 16 miles southeast of Sleetmute
Alaska. The pilot stated that immediately after takeoff he had difficulty
lowering the airplane's nose. He said that while attempting to return to the
lake the aircraft stalled and impacted the water. The pilot said he thought the
elevator trim did not function. The pilot was not injured and the passenger
received serious injuries. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both
wings and the fuselage. The NTSB stated that the cause of the accident was the
loss of control precipitated by the pilot's inadvertent stall. Factors
associated with the accident where the disengagement of the stabilizer trim
system, which resulted in reduced aircraft control, an inadvertent stall by the
pilot, and a large set of moose antlers
attached to the left float.
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