- Date
- April 27, 2014, 15:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place
- Punta Gorda, FL
- Injuries
- 2 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N543MGGingras Michel Aventura II
- Defining event
- Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Low altitude operation/event
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report July 30, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- Case key
- 89186
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 pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the water while operating at a low altitude.
Findings · 3
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 of the float-equipped airplane stated the purpose of the flight was to "scout for fish." While flying 30 feet above the water the airplane encountered a "huge gust of wind" and then bounced off the water surface multiple times. The pilot applied full power to reestablish flight but the right pontoon contacted the water and the airplane "ground looped." Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that could have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
The pilot of the float-equipped airplane stated the purpose of the flight was to "scout for fish." While flying 30 feet above the water the airplane encountered a "huge gust of wind" and then bounced off the water surface multiple times. The pilot applied full power to reestablish flight but the right pontoon contacted the water and the airplane "ground looped." Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that could have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N543MG
- Reported as
- Gingras Michel Aventura II
- Category
- Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number
- AA2A0148
- Built
- 2009
- Airframe hours
- 441
- Engine
- Rotax 912ULS, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Operator
- John Keyworth
- Registered owner
- Claus Donna M
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental light sport (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · October 5, 2013 · 35 hours before
- Departed
- PGD · Punta Gorda, FL
- Destination
- PGD · Punta Gorda, FL
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
- 69
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Last flight review
- November 12, 2013
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 3-point
- Flight hours
- 1,386.3 total · 33.7 in this make and model · 1,386.3 as pilot in command · 9.8 in the last 90 days · 3.7 in the last 30 days · 3.7 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 250° at 9 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 90 °F, dew point 70 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.96 inHg
- Observed at
- PGD, 14 nm away
Docket · 5
The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 18, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 2.1 MB in all.