# NTSB FTW85FA012: Consolidated-Vultee PBY-6A, N16KL, Port Isabel, TX, October 13, 1984

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Fatal · Field investigation · Final report
- Date: October 13, 1984, 08:03 local (13:03 UTC)
- Place: Port Isabel, TX
- Coordinates: 26.069589, -97.220336 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=26.0696&lon=-97.2203&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Maneuvering](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/450) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Fatal
- Injuries: 7 fatal, 3 serious
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 21496
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=FTW85FA012
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/21496/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/FTW85FA012

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, maneuvering
  - terrain condition - water,glassy (contributing factor)
  - clearance - misjudged, copilot/second pilot (cause)
  - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command (cause)
  - door,landing gear - overload (cause)
  - door,landing gear - separation (cause)

## 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 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Consolidated-Vultee PBY-6A
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 63998
- Airframe hours: 6457
- Engines: P&W R-1830-92 1200 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.

- Pilot; age 37; 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 (OpenAirDocs).

- [Accident 19841013055499A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19841013055499A), Oct 13, 1984: Cvac PBY6ABABB, Port Isabel, TX, Destroyed, 6 fatal. Impacted water during simulated water landing photographic flight. Nose pitched down during low level run.

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.

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