# NTSB CHI94FA258: Keuthan, Charles J. Buccaneer II, N5296C, Oshkosh, WI, August 1, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Field investigation · Final report - Date: August 1, 1994, 09:20 local (14:20 UTC) - Place: Oshkosh, WI - Coordinates: 44.060672, -88.540283 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.0607&lon=-88.5403&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report January 12, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 9385 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CHI94FA258 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/9385/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CHI94FA258 ## Probable cause the pilot's inadvertent stall of the airplane. Factors were the tailwind condition and the pilot's inadequate compensation for the tailwind. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - weather condition - tailwind (contributing factor) - compensation for wind conditions - inadequate, pilot in command (contributing factor) - stall - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled ## Analysis The pilot was demonstrating the capabilities of the experimental amphibious airplane to the passenger. The pilot reported that during the initial climb following her second water touch-and-go landing, the airplane was approaching the trees on the edge of the lake. She attempted to turn but the airplane descended and impacted the water. A witness reported the airplane stalled and the wing struck the water. ## Factual narrative HISTORY OF FLIGHT On August 1, 1994, at 0920 central daylight time, an experimental Charles J. Keuthan Buccaneer II airplane, N5296C, sustained substantial damage during a water touch-and-go landing at the Vette Seaplane Base in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. The commercial pilot and the sole passenger sustained minor injuries. The business flight departed the Wittman Regional Airport, Oshkosh, Wisconsin, about 0900 and was conducted under CFR Part 91 in visual meteorological conditions. The planned destination was the Wittman Regional Airport and no flight plan was filed. The pilot said she was employed by the operator to give demonstration rides to potential customers. The flight was conducted to demonstrate the capabilities of the experimental amphibious airplane to the passenger. They departed the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) convention at Wittman Regional Airport and flew to the Vette Seaplane Base. She flew one uneventful touch-and-go landing on the water. Following the second touch-and-go landing, during the initial climb, she felt like the airplane was not climbing at a normal rate. She said all engine instruments were normal and she thought the airplane was going to impact the trees at the edge of the lake. She attempted to turn and perform an emergency landing, but the airplane descended and impacted the water. A witness to the accident said he saw the airplane takeoff downwind on a heading of about 210 degrees with northerly winds of about 10 knots. He said it was approaching the trees, turned, and then stalled. A wing tip caught in the water and the airplane spun in. PERSONAL INFORMATION The pilot held a commercial pilot certificate with a single engine land rating. She did not hold a single engine sea rating. WRECKAGE AND IMPACT INFORMATION The NTSB on scene investigation began about 1100. The airplane was located on the shore at the western edge of the Vette Seaplane Base. A witness said he helped to move the airplane up from the water and had extended the landing gear. The front four feet of the hull was fractured circumferentially in the upward direction. The trailing edge of the right wing was bent downward outboard of the lift struts and the right sponson was twisted. The left forward lift strut was fractured. The engine assembly was twisted on the mount and the fuselage mounted fuel tank was filled with water. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Following the on scene portion of the investigation, the wreckage was released to the owner. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N5296C](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N5296C-2018-03-27), registration cancelled 2018-03-27, S/N B2B-K036, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: KEUTHAN, CHARLES J. BUCCANEER II (BUCCANEER) - Registry model: [Keuthan Charles J BUCCANEER II](https://openairdocs.org/model/keuthan-charles-j-buccaneer-ii) (registry code 05624WB) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: B2B-F036 - Engines: ROTAX 382 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 91 - Operator: Keuthan, Charles J., doing business as Keuthan Aircraft - Registered owner: Kuethan, Charles, J. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 30, 1994 - Airport: Vette Seaplane Base ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 20; flight engineer, military, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 234 total, 20 in this make and model, 196 as pilot in command, 34 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 300° at 10 knots - Visibility: 5 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,000 ft overcast - Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: OSH, 5 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 19940801019999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940801019999A), Aug 1, 1994: Amtrad BUCCANEER, Oshkosh, WI, Substantial damage. Demo of experimental ampibian. On climbout turned to avoid trees on shore. Stalled and struck the water. 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.