# Choppy surface

- Type: NTSB finding subsection
- Path: [Environmental issues](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03) › [Physical environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/0302) › [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/030230) › Choppy surface
- NTSB code: 03023030
- Cases: 20
- In the probable cause: 12
- Fatal cases: 2
- All cases: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023030/cases.md
- Cases with it in the probable cause: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023030/cases.md?cause=1
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023030

## Cases per year (in the probable cause / all)

- 2011: 0 / 1
- 2013: 0 / 1
- 2015: 1 / 2
- 2016: 1 / 3
- 2017: 4 / 5
- 2018: 0 / 1
- 2019: 2 / 2
- 2020: 2 / 2
- 2023: 2 / 2
- 2024: 0 / 1

## Defining events in these cases

- [Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230): 7 cases
- [Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900): 2 cases
- [Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240): 2 cases
- [Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096): 2 cases
- [Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093): 2 cases
- [Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090): 2 cases
- [Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490): 1 cases
- [Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241): 1 cases
- [Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092): 1 cases

## Aircraft models (registry)

- [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4](https://openairdocs.org/model/consolidated-aeronautics-lake-la-4): 2 cases
- [Cessna 208](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208): 2 cases
- [Aerofab LAKE LA-4-250](https://openairdocs.org/model/aerofab-lake-la-4-250): 1 cases
- [Dehavilland BEAVER DHC-2 MK.1](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-beaver-dhc-2-mk-1): 1 cases
- [Consolidated Aeronautics LAKE LA-4-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/consolidated-aeronautics-lake-la-4-200): 1 cases
- [Aviat A-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1b): 1 cases
- [Cessna U206G](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-u206g): 1 cases
- [Cessna 182C](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-182c): 1 cases
- [Cessna 180J](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180j): 1 cases
- [Cessna 180](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-180): 1 cases

## Other findings in the same cases

- [Aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040) (Personnel issues): 13 cases
- [Decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520) (Personnel issues): 5 cases
- [Directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020) (Aircraft): 5 cases
- [Airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010) (Aircraft): 3 cases
- [Tailwind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034015) (Environmental issues): 2 cases
- [Monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545) (Personnel issues): 2 cases
- [Climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035) (Aircraft): 2 cases
- [Gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045) (Environmental issues): 1 cases
- [Crosswind](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034040) (Environmental issues): 1 cases
- [High temperature](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03031015) (Environmental issues): 1 cases

## Newest cases

- [NTSB CEN24LA255](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA255), Jul 4, 2024: Air Tractor AT-802 (N983LA), Brad, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control after encountering a large boat wake.
- [NTSB WPR23LA326](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA326), Aug 28, 2023: Henry Steven J JA 30 Superstol (N869BB), Leavenworth, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during taxi, which resulted in a nose over.
- [NTSB CEN23LA290](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN23LA290), Jul 7, 2023: Good James AIR CAM (N38HP), Caswell Beach, NC, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to properly evaluate the sea state during an open sea landing and subsequent takeoff attempt resulting in an inadvertent impact with the water.
- [NTSB WPR21LA013](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA013), Oct 9, 2020: Ralph C Kimball Sea Rey (N32RK), Parker Dam, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The inadvertent encounter with water wake during the takeoff sequence that degraded the airplane’s airspeed and resulted in the pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from obstacles during the initial…
- [NTSB CEN20CA348](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA348), Aug 17, 2020: Progressive Aerodyne Searey (N502BK), League City, TX, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during a water takeoff after an encounter with the wake from a boat.
- [NTSB ANC19FA035](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC19FA035), Jul 19, 2019: De Havilland Beaver DHC 2 (N68083), Seldovia, AK, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The airplane's floats impact with an ocean wave or swell, which exceeded the design load specifications of the flying wire assemblies and resulted in a partial separation of the float assemblies.
- [NTSB ERA19LA156](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA156), Apr 23, 2019: Cessna 208 (N366TA), Key West, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's decision to attempt a takeoff in rough sea conditions, resulting in damage to the floats and the sinking of the seaplane.
- [NTSB GAA18CA336](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA336), Jun 10, 2018: Aviat A 1 (N352AM), Renton, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s inadequate crosswind correction, which resulted in the right wing impacting the water’s surface.
- [NTSB ANC17LA053](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC17LA053), Sep 4, 2017: Cessna U206G (N16GP), Kodiak, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: ***This probable cause was modified on November 27, 2018. Please see the docket for this accident to view the original probable cause.*** The pilot's improper decision to takeoff in an area of rough…
- [NTSB CEN17FA287](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN17FA287), Jul 28, 2017: Aerofab Lake LA 4 250 (N1400P), Oshkosh, WI, substantial damage, 2 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to properly configure the airplane for takeoff and his decision to takeoff with a tailwind in unfavorable water conditions, which resulted in the airplane entering an aerodynamic…

NTSB has coded findings and defining events since 2008; earlier cases used its older occurrence and cause codes and aren't counted.

Findings: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings.md. Defining events: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events.md. Phases of flight: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases.md. Every investigation, filtered by finding, event, phase, state, year or model: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb.md (for example ?state=MI&fatal=1).

NTSB's definitions: Accident and incident, 49 CFR 830.2 (https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-49/subtitle-B/chapter-VIII/part-830/subpart-A/section-830.2), CICTT occurrence categories (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/OccurrenceCategoryDefinitions.pdf), CICTT phases of flight (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/safety/data/Documents/datafiles/PhaseofFlightDefinitions.pdf), and NTSB coding manual, before 2008 (PDF) (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). NTSB publishes no definitions for its findings, only their names.

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