# Accident 20221015016149A: Balcomb Kenneth C III SEAREY, Lake Isabel, WA, October 15, 2022

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: October 15, 2022, 15:00 local time
- Place: Lake Isabel, WA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Climb Out
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 47.8702° N, 121.5923° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.8702&lon=-121.5923&mi=10
- Aircraft: N129KB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N129KB-2024-11-30) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Balcomb Kenneth C III SEAREY (registry code 05621Z1, https://openairdocs.org/model/balcomb-kenneth-c-iii-searey) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 912S series (registry code 55570, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912s-series) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: BALCOMB KENNETH C III SEAREY
- Reported engine: ROTAX 912ULS
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Commercial pilot, private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 1,277 total
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR23LA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA019) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221015016149A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

WIND SHEAR/DOWNDRAFT ON TAKEOFF FROM LAKE ISABEL, WA, OCTOBER 17, 2022.  THIS CAUSED THE PLANE TO CRASH BACK INTO THE LAKE. THE PILOT NOTED A 600 FPM DESCENT RATE ON HIS VSI AND THE PLANE WAS UNABLE TO OUT-CLIMB THE DESCENT RATE. THE PLANE IMPACTED THE WATER AND BOUNCED COMING TO A SECOND FULL STOP. FOLLOWING THE SECOND IMPACT THE PILOT MOTORED THE PLANE TO SHORE AND BEACHED. THE PLANE SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE WINGS, EMPENNAGE, MAST AND SPONSONS. THE PLANE IS LOCATED IN A LAKE THAT IS ONLY ACCESSABLE BY AIRCRAFT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB WPR23LA019](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA019), Oct 15, 2022: Progressive Aerodyne SeaRey (N129KB), Lake Isabel, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s loss of airplane control after an encounter with windshear during takeoff which, resulted in a hard water landing.

## Other reports on N129KB (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20120831019569I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120831019569I), Aug 31, 2012: Balcomb Kenneth C III SEAREY (N129KB), Lake Whatcom, WA, Minor damage. Pilot flying stated he was looking inside at the VSI in anticipation of learning the technique for glassy water landings. Pilot flying was not paying attention…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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