- Date
- October 13, 1984, 08:03 local (13:03 UTC)
- Place
- Port Isabel, TX
- Injuries
- 7 fatal, 3 serious
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N16KLConsolidated-Vultee PBY-6A
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19841013055499A
- Case key
- 21496
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
Aerial photos were being taken of the mishap acft. Mission called for a simulated water lndg (actual water lndg prohibited) by flying as close as possible to water. Co-plt at controls descended acft to about 6 ft, then gradually reduced clrnc to 6-12 inches above water, airspd 105 mph. Co-plt inadvertantly allowed acft to touch water. On touchdown, acft decelerated violently and broke up, ejecting several of the occupants and coming to rest inverted. Examination of aerial photos shows acft hull at touchdown was slightly nose down vice normal lndg attitude; water contact made at location of nose lndg gear doors. Photos show outward rupturing of fwd hull structure, nose gear doors missing. Hull at rear of step showed two parallel, 3-FT long by 2-IN wide, fore-to-aft and outbd-to-inbd penetrations. Floor of shallow lagoon known to have scattered debris from petrolem explorations; however, no positive determination of acft contact with submerged object could be made.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N16KL
- Reported as
- Consolidated-Vultee PBY-6A
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 63998
- Airframe hours
- 6,457
- Engine
- P&W R-1830-92, 1,200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Destroyed
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Confederate Air Force
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Annual · August 1, 1984
- Departed
- HRL · Harlingen, TX
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 37
- Certificates
- Commercial, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2, Valid Medical--w/ waivers/lim
- Seat
- Right
- Flight hours
- 8,695 total · 70 in this make and model · 162 in the last 90 days · 4 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 150° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 22,000 ft overcast
- Temperature
- 75 °F, dew point 72 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
- Observed at
- BRO, 25 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.