Amateur-built ANDERSON KINGFISHER accident near Deerwood, Minnesota, July 22, 2000
On July 22, 2000 at about 10:13 pm local time, a amateur-built ANDERSON KINGFISHER, registered N41SF, was substantially damaged in an accident near Deerwood, Minnesota (Birch Lake Seaplane Base airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
the open carburetor heat air box resulting in a loss of engine power, the diminished climb rate and the altitude/clearance not possible by the pilot. Factors were the trees and the bent carburetor heat push-pull rod.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 22, 2000 · about 10:13 pm local time
- Place
- Deerwood, Minnesota · Birch Lake Seaplane Base · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built ANDERSON KINGFISHER ANDERSON K
- Registration
- N41SF · no longer on the register · serial 158
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The airplane was damaged during an inflight collision with trees and the water during initial climb following a water takeoff after a touch and go. The pilot said that he had decided to perform a touch and go. He stated that after the takeoff, as he "... approached the S.E. [southeast] shore [he] was indicating less RPM and no climb. Too late [he] turned left along the shoreline and [k]new the trough to go through on the north. Only, in a very few feet it [the airplane] was settling not holding my own. A quick decision to try another left turn, but too slow, too low and no place to go.... Hit left rudder nose down and spun it in from 30 feet." The pilot also stated that after examining the wreckage, he found that the carburetor heat "...cable had bent in a "V", so the carb [carburetor] heat stayed on."
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,057 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 2 in the last 30 days; 1,057 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: None (expired)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded, October 1, 1990; 6 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,500 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-235 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: M69 at 10:00 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 13, 6,000 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 220° at 5 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 160°F (71°C), dew point 133°F (56°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 9:53 pm from BRD, 14 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.