- Date
- May 29, 2010, 11:25 local (15:25 UTC)
- Place
- Chester, PA
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N713ACLepow David A Prgsv Aerdyn SEA REY
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Collision during takeoff/land
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report April 12, 2011
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20100529005329A
- Case key
- 76148
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 airplane’s collision with a submerged object during landing, which resulted in a nose-over.
Findings · 1
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 certified flight instructor (CFI) stated that the purpose of the flight was to practice glassy water landings in the float-equipped airplane. They overflew the practice area to check the condition of the river and the CFI stated that there were no obstacles or debris visible. Shortly after touchdown, both pilots reported hearing a loud bang and the airplane immediately nosed over. Both pilots exited the submerged airplane and sustained minor injuries. According to a Federal Aviation Administration inspector, the wreckage showed damage consistent with striking a submerged object. The airplane incurred substantial damage to its canopy, hull, and tail.
Factual narrative
The certified flight instructor (CFI) stated that the purpose of the flight was to practice glassy water landings. After taking off from Spitfire Aerodrome, 7N7, they flew to the Philadelphia Seaplane Base practice area and overflew the area to check the condition of the river. The CFI stated that there were “no obstacles or debris visible.” Shortly after touchdown, both pilots reported hearing a loud bang, and the airplane immediately nosed over. Both pilots exited the submerged airplane and sustained minor injuries. According to the Federal Aviation Administration inspector-in-charge, the wreckage showed damage consistent with striking a submerged object and the landing was performed in the correct configuration. The airplane incurred substantial damage to its canopy, hull, and tail.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N713AC
- Reported as
- Lepow David A Prgsv Aerdyn SEA REY
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- 1NK143
- Airframe hours
- 260
- Engine
- Bombardier ROTAX 912, 80 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional · Part 91
- Operator
- Dell Aero Inc
- Registered owner
- Dell Aero Inc
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · June 6, 2009
- Departed
- Chester, PA
- Destination
- Chester, PA
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 · 2
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Flight instructor
- Age
- 65
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Multi-engine sea, Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 27, 2010
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 24,000 total · 2 in this make and model · 18,900 as pilot in command · 50 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days · 1 in the last 24 hours
- Role
- Student pilot
- Age
- 30
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- May 10, 2010
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 4,000 total · 10 in this make and model · 3,000 as pilot in command · 100 in the last 90 days · 40 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 210° at 5 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.96 inHg
- Observed at
- PHL, 5 nm away
Docket · 2
The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 17, 2010, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 869 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.