- Date
- August 23, 2008, 14:15 local (18:15 UTC)
- Place
- Algonac, MI
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Taxi
- Aircraft
- N1147LLake LA-4
- Defining event
- Taxi: Ground collision
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report January 22, 2009
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- FAA-Detroit FSDO
- Case key
- 69542
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 amphibious airplane's collision with submerged debris during taxi for takeoff, and the resulting damage to the hull.
Findings · 2
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 reported that after departure he proceeded to a nearby lake in order to practice water takeoffs and landings. After landing, the water conditions became too rough to safely takeoff. The pilot elected to water taxi to a bay area near an island for smoother conditions. He stated that as he crossed near the southern tip of the island, the airplane struck a submerged object. He estimated the airplane's speed at the time as approximately 6 miles per hour. He steered the airplane toward deeper water; however, after about 3 minutes his feet were under water. He subsequently taxied into water about 3 feet deep and came to rest with the landing gear down. He noted that the airplane normally sat about 18 inches deep in the water. The depth finder did not alert him to the presence of the submerged object prior to the collision.
Factual narrative
The pilot reported that after departure he proceeded to a nearby lake in order to practice water takeoffs and landings. After landing, the water conditions became too rough to safely takeoff. The pilot elected to water taxi to a bay area near an island for smoother conditions. He stated that as he crossed near the southern tip of the island, the airplane struck a submerged object. He estimated the airplane's speed at the time as approximately 6 miles per hour. He steered the airplane toward deeper water; however, after about 3 minutes his feet were under water. He subsequently taxied into water about 3 feet deep and came to rest with the landing gear down. He noted that the airplane normally sat about 18 inches deep in the water. The depth finder did not alert him to the presence of the submerged object prior to the collision.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1147L
- Reported as
- Lake LA-4
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 309
- Airframe hours
- 2,452
- Engine
- Lycoming O&VO-360 SER, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 22, 2008
- Departed
- DET · Detroit, MI
- Destination
- Algonac, MI
- Airport
- DET · Coleman A Young Muni
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
- 48
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 348 total · 102 in this make and model · 1 in the last 90 days · 1 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 170° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Observed at
- DET, 15 nm away