- Date
- May 31, 2014, 11:15 local (19:15 UTC)
- Place
- Willow, AK
- Injuries
- 3 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N602BCFound Acft Canada FBA 2C2
- Defining event
- Landing: Windshear or thunderstorm
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report December 15, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Alaska Regional Office
- Parties
- AAL-ANC FSDO-03
- FAA report
- 20140531009509A
- Case key
- 89325
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's loss of control of the airplane during landing on water due to an encounter with wind shear, which resulted in the airplane's abnormal contact with the surface.
Findings · 3
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
The pilot was conducting an approach to land on water in a float-equipped airplane. He said that, because of the high winds, he conducted the approach at a high airspeed. He stated that, when the airplane was about 50 feet above the surface, it encountered a strong wind shear, and the left wing dropped. The pilot noted that he had never before encountered such a violent wind shear during landing. The pilot applied full power and full aileron but the airplane struck the water with its left float and left side of the tail before he could get it completely level. The airplane bounced, and the pilot then landed without further incident. Examination of the airplane revealed damage to the left elevator and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot was conducting an approach to land on water in a float-equipped airplane. He said that, because of the high winds, he conducted the approach at a high airspeed. He stated that, when the airplane was about 50 feet above the surface, it encountered a strong wind shear, and the left wing dropped. The pilot noted that he had never before encountered such a violent wind shear during landing. The pilot applied full power and full aileron but the airplane struck the water with its left float and left side of the tail before he could get it completely level. The airplane bounced, and the pilot then landed without further incident. Examination of the airplane revealed damage to the left elevator and horizontal stabilizer. The pilot stated that there were no preaccident mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N602BC
- Reported as
- Found Acft Canada FBA 2C2 (2)
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 105
- Built
- 2007
- Airframe hours
- 1,195
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-540-LICS, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Business · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · May 1, 2014
- Departed
- AK90 · Willow, AK
- Destination
- 2X2 · Willow, AK
- Flight plan
- Company VFR
- Airport
- 2X2 · Willow Spb, runway 13W, 3,600 × 400 ft, water
- Equipment
- Stall warning system
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 58
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- July 9, 2013
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 4,700 total · 1,243 in this make and model · 4,600 as pilot in command · 40 in the last 90 days · 40 in the last 30 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 220° at 30 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 43 °F, dew point 30 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.81 inHg
- Observed at
- PAWS, 18 nm away
Docket · 1
The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 11, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 5.2 MB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.
Other investigations on N602BC · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.