# NTSB ERA20CA241: Aviat A1, N526MA, Plattsburgh, NY, July 2, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 2, 2020, 14:20 local (18:20 UTC) - Place: Plattsburgh, NY - Coordinates: 44.636112, -73.425277 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.6361&lon=-73.4253&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 101555 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA241 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101555/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101555 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA241 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of control of the airplane during a water landing after striking a boat wake, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: directional control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 21 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 3,958 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 33 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he overflew the area of intended landing to check for water depth, wind direction, and verify that it was a suitable landing area. While on final approach to the water, a boat crossed underneath the airplane. As the airplane landed on the water, it struck the boat wake, which resulted in the airplane "skip[ping]" over the water. When the airplane impacted the water again, the front float struts collapsed resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he overflew the area of intended landing to check for water depth, wind direction, and verify that it was a suitable landing area. While on final approach to the water, a boat crossed underneath the airplane. As the airplane landed on the water, it struck the boat wake, which resulted in the airplane "skip[ping]" over the water. When the airplane impacted the water again, the front float struts collapsed resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N526MA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N526MA), registered now, S/N 2142, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aviat A1 (B) - Registry model: [Aviat A-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1b) (registry code 2210406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-360-A1D](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-360-a1d) (registry code 41504, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2142 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 1388 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1P 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 3, 2020 - Departed: BTV, Burlington, VT - Destination: PBG, Plattsburgh, NY - Airport: PBG, Plattsburgh Intl - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 35; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 22, 2019; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 382 total, 26 in this make and model, 338 as pilot in command, 36 in the last 90 days, 34 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 130° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 70 °F - Altimeter: 29.75 inHg - Observed at: PBG, 2 nm away ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101555. 5.3 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9933476&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=CA241%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigative photographs (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 2 photos, 161 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9927366&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array%20CA241-Rel.pdf 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.