# NTSB ATL02LA047: Piper PA -18, N8553C, Winter Haven, FL, February 12, 2002 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: February 12, 2002, 10:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Winter Haven, FL - Coordinates: 28.057222, -81.756668 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0572&lon=-81.7567&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 25, 2003 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Tampa FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 54210 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL02LA047 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/54210/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54210 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL02LA047 ## Probable cause The pilot's improper flare during an attempted landing on water. A factor was glassy water. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, landing - terrain condition - water,glassy (contributing factor) - flare - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis A seaplane collided with water during an attempted glassy water landing. The pilot said he misjudged his altitude and flared prematurely during the flare to touchdown. The left wing dropped and contacted the water. The airplane cartwheeled, and the right wing contacted the water as well. ## Factual narrative On February 12, 2002, at 1015 eastern standard time, a Piper PA-18, N8553C, collided with water during an attempted landing to Lake Eloise in Winter Haven, Florida. The airplane was owned by and registered to the private pilot, who conducted the personal flight under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91, with no flight plan filed. Visual weather conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The pilot and passenger were not injured; the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight departed Lake Cannon in Winter Haven, Florida, at 1000. According to the pilot, he established an approach for a glassy water landing. The pilot further stated that he misjudged his altitude above the water, and flared prematurely. The left wing dropped and contacted the water. The airplane cartwheeled, and the right wing contacted the water as well. Examination of the wreckage revealed damage to the outboard edges of both wings. In addition the propeller blades were bent aft, the left wing support strut was bowed, the fuselage was deformed from the cabin area rearward, and there was a hole on the top of the fuselage above the rear seat in the cabin. The post-accident examination of the airplane failed to disclose mechanical malfunctions or component failures. The pilot did not report a mechanical malfunction with the airplane prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N8553C](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N8553C), registered now, S/N 18-2699, built 1953 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper PA -18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18-135](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18-135) (registry code 7101820) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-290 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-290-series) (registry code 41506, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-2699 - Airframe hours: 3420 - Engines: Lycoming 0320 160 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Andrew Wagner Thornal. Jr - Registered owner: Next Flightout Ltd - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 5, 2001, 8 hours before - Departed: NONE, Winterhaven, FL - Destination: Lake Eloise, FL - Airport: GIF, Gilbert, runway GIF ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: front; flight hours: 1,600 total, 400 in this make and model, 1,540 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 59 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 30.19 inHg - Observed at: TPA ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20020212009319A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20020212009319A), Feb 12, 2002: Piper PA18135, Winterhaven, FL, No damage. (-23) The pilot was setting up for a "glassy water" approach and landing at lake eloise in winter haven, FL. According to the pilot and his passenger (a… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 21, 2002, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=54210. 585 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 585 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40387297&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.