What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
On October 9, 2020 a pilot and passenger took off in an experimental Sea Rey from Parker Dam in Lake Havasu. Shortly after take off the aircraft hit a pick up truck and then struck two water tanks, where it came to rest.
The pilot noted he passed through several wakes while attempting his take off. He stated each wake caused him to lose airspeed which in turn caused a longer take off roll than he expected. He did not get enough altitude prior to lift off and struck a parked pick up truck. It is not believed that any occupants were in the pickup at the time of the accident.
The pilot and passenger were unhurt and walked away. The aircraft received substantial damage.
The pilot has a total of 15000 flight hours in various aircraft types. He has 130 hours in the sea ray. He also holds endorsements for sport pilot sea plane.
As the FAA filed it
ON OCTOBER 9, 2020 A PILOT AND PASSENGER TOOK OFF IN AN EXPERIMENTAL SEA REY FROM PARKER DAM IN LAKE HAVASU. SHORTLY AFTER TAKE OFF THE AIRCRAFT HIT A PICK UP TRUCK AND THEN STRUCK TWO WATER TANKS, WHERE IT CAME TO REST.
THE PILOT NOTED HE PASSED THROUGH SEVERAL WAKES WHILE ATTEMPTING HIS TAKE OFF. HE STATED EACH WAKE CAUSED HIM TO LOSE AIRSPEED WHICH IN TURN CAUSED A LONGER TAKE OFF ROLL THAN HE EXPECTED. HE DID NOT GET ENOUGH ALTITUDE PRIOR TO LIFT OFF AND STRUCK A PARKED PICK UP TRUCK. IT IS NOT BELIEVED THAT ANY OCCUPANTS WERE IN THE PICKUP AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT.
THE PILOT AND PASSENGER WERE UNHURT AND WALKED AWAY. THE AIRCRAFT RECEIVED SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE.
THE PILOT HAS A TOTAL OF 15000 FLIGHT HOURS IN VARIOUS AIRCRAFT TYPES. HE HAS 130 HOURS IN THE SEA RAY. HE ALSO HOLDS ENDORSEMENTS FOR SPORT PILOT SEA PLANE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.