# NTSB CHI00LA158: Truthan Searey, N89PJ, Grand Rapids, MI, June 10, 2000 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 10, 2000, 10:55 local (14:55 UTC) - Place: Grand Rapids, MI - Coordinates: 42.930652, -85.539932 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.9307&lon=-85.5399&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 8, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 49428 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI00LA158 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/49428/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI00LA158 ## Probable cause the pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control when the airplane encountered high winds. Factors which related to this accident were the high crosswind, the wind gusts, and the submerged object. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, taxi - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor) - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, taxi - object - submerged object (contributing factor) ## Analysis The pilot was taxiing his amphibian airplane north on the Thorn Apple River, near Grand Rapids, Michigan. The west bank of the river section he was taxiing up was bordered by gradually down-sloping bluffs. When the airplane got past the bluff- section of the river, it 'nosed into the water and the aircraft flipped, tail over-the-nose, coming to rest inverted.' After the airplane was recovered, the pilot noted damage to the step of the hull. The pilot thought the damage to be consistent with striking a submerged log. Examination of the airplane revealed the forward fiberglass hull, fore deck, and 'turtle' deck were cracked inward. No other anomalies were found. At the time of the accident, the winds reported at Kent County International Airport, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 11 miles west of the accident site, were 210 degrees at 16 knots gusting to 21 knots. ## Factual narrative On June 10, 2000, at 1055 eastern daylight time (edt), a Truthan Searey, N89PJ, homebuilt seaplane, operated by a private pilot, sustained substantial damage when it flipped over during taxi on the Thorn Apple River, near Grand Rapids, Michigan. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. No flight plan was on file. The pilot and passenger on board reported no injuries. The local flight was originating at the time of the accident. In his written statement, the pilot said that he was taxiing north on the Thorn Apple River at approximately 28 knots. He said that the west bank of the river section he was taxiing on was bordered by gradually down-sloping bluffs. When the airplane got past the bluff-section of the river, it "nosed into the water and the aircraft flipped, tail over-the-nose, coming to rest inverted." After the airplane was recovered, the pilot noted damage to the step of the hull. The pilot thought the damage to be consistent with striking a submerged log. A Federal Aviation Administration inspector examined the wreckage when it was recovered from the river. The airplane's right wing and forward struts were bent. The forward fiberglass hull, fore deck, and "turtle" deck were cracked inward. Flight control continuity was confirmed. Examination of the engine, engine controls, and other airplane systems revealed no anomalies. At 1056 edt, the weather reporting station at Kent County International Airport, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 11 miles west of the accident site, reported few clouds at 2000 feet, 9 miles visibility, and winds 210 degrees at 16 knots gusting to 21 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N89PJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N89PJ-2018-06-08), registration cancelled 2018-06-08, S/N 1DK196, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Truthan SEAREY - Registry model: [Truthan Charles PRGSIVE ARDYN SEAREY](https://openairdocs.org/model/truthan-charles-prgsive-ardyn-searey) (registry code 05607MC) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 10K196 - Airframe hours: 40 - Engines: Rotax 912S 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Charles E. Truthan - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 4, 2000, 40 hours before - Destination: GRR, MI ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,193 total, 41 in this make and model, 1,112 as pilot in command, 63 in the last 90 days, 25 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 210° at 16 knots, gusting 21 - Visibility: 9 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: GRR, 11 nm away ## 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 20000610037039A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20000610037039A), Jun 10, 2000: Grand Rapids, MI, No damage. (-23) The pilot stated that he was step-taxiing down down on the thornapple river. As he came from the lee side of a row of trees, the aircraft was caught by a… 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.