The news story says a plane hit a kayak on takeoff from a gravel bar, but is very short on real details, anyone know the rest of the story?

https://www.yahoo.com/news/small-plane- ... 30161.html

Oopsie

Wow that really went viral. I suspect I know the pilot and he is a really good guy. I hope the kayaker is okay and it doesn't get too ugly.

Tail number turned up as owned by Twin Oaks airport.
If it was a rental, I'm surprised that they would allow gravel bar ops.
Or maybe they don't?

water skiing? If the kayak was up on dry land how would you not see it? How does one "loose control" hit a kayak then save the plane?

hotrod180 wrote:Tail number turned up as owned by Twin Oaks airport.
If it was a rental, I'm surprised that they would allow gravel bar ops.
Or maybe they don't?

I am based out of Twin Oaks. This was not a rental plane. They used to have a carbon cub for rent years ago but sold the plane due to the cost of insurance. I will leave the owner's name anonymous. I think an accident like this can happen due to the cub taking off in low ground effect with the kayak being on other side of the gravel bar close to the gravel. I do not know the exact details of the accident but the pilot obviously couldn't see due the natural blind spots in a tail low attitude and the cowl obstructing the forward visibility when the tail came up. The Kayak likely did not know there was a plane taking off in her direction. Terrible accident but I have heard the woman injured in the accident is doing well. Summer on the Willamette river can be very busy and the number of people moving to this area over the last 5 years has been astonishing. The skies, rivers, and freeways are crazy busy now. I have been here for 25 years and it is starting to feel like Southern California. Lots of bandits in the skies now.


Josh

Apparently, those of you wondering how this could happen have never flown a J-3.

Solo is generally from the BACK seat.

MTV