# NTSB CHI07CA149: Piper J3C, N28DR, Waterford, MI, May 18, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 18, 2007, 12:00 local (16:00 UTC) - Place: Waterford, MI - Coordinates: 42.664443, -83.449722 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=42.6644&lon=-83.4497&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 27, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 65972 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI07CA149 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65972/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI07CA149 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane, causing a water loop. A factor in the accident was the water loop encountered. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - aborted - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - water - landing gear,float assembly - overload - water loop/swerve - encountered (contributing factor) ## Analysis The float plane's takeoff roll seemed longer than normal to the pilot. After he lifted off, he noticed a shimmy even though the aircraft was out of the water. He decided to abort the takeoff because he "still had plenty of water left to land on" ahead of him. The airplane touched down with the left float first. When the right float touched down, the airplane yawed hard to the right and water looped. Water conditions at the time of the accident were reported by the pilot as calm. An examination of the wreckage revealed no pre-impact anomalies. ## Factual narrative The airplane was substantially damaged during an aborted takeoff from a lake. The pilot stated, "The airplane seemed to have an abnormally long takeoff roll. It just did not seem right. I tried to adjust the pitch of the airplane to find the 'sweet spot' on the step. Slight nose up did not help and relaxing back pressure did not help either. I then decided to raise the right float out of the water to reduce drag. The airplane lifted off the water what appeared to be normal at first. But while I was accelerating and slowly climbing I felt a slight shimmying even though we were now off the water. I decided to abort the takeoff because I still had plenty of water left to land on ahead of me. ...We appeared to touch down on the left float first. Once the right float contacted the water the plane immediately yawed hard to the right and the airplane rolled fast to the left and spun." Water conditions at the time of the accident were reported by the pilot as calm. An examination of the wreckage revealed no pre-impact anomalies. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N28DR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N28DR), registered now, S/N 21010, built 1945 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Piper J3C - Registry model: [Piper J3C-65](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-j3c-65) (registry code 7100510) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental A&C65 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-a-c65-series) (registry code 17003, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 21010 - Airframe hours: 2859 - Engines: Continental C90-12F 90 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 2007 - Departed: Waterford, MI - Destination: Williams Lake - Airport: PTK, Oakland-Pontiac ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 39; injuries: minor; flight instructor, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 1, 2007; seat: front; flight hours: 7,000 total, 20 in this make and model, 4,500 as pilot in command, 150 in the last 90 days, 100 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 6 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 27 °F - Altimeter: 30.29 inHg - Observed at: KPTK, 2 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 20070518014759A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070518014759A), May 18, 2007: Piper J3C65, Pontiac, MI, Substantial damage. (-23) Aircraft N28DR was observed to be partially submerged in Pontiac lake. After the aircraft was towed to shore, a physical inspection of the aircraft… ## Other investigations on N28DR (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 ERA25FA239](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25FA239), Jun 24, 2025: Piper J3C-65 (N28DR), Dunlap, TN, substantial damage, 1 fatal, investigation ongoing 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.