# NTSB GAA17CA301: Zwicker Murray R Glastar, N89SR, Napa, CA, April 30, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 30, 2017, 15:10 local (22:10 UTC) - Place: Napa, CA - Coordinates: 38.655555, -122.262222 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6556&lon=-122.2622&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 3, 2017 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA/ FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 95227 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA301 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/95227/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95227 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA301 ## Probable cause The amphibious float-equipped airplane's encounter with a submerged object during a water landing, which resulted in a nose-over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: hidden/submerged object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022052): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Zwicker Murray R GLASTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022052/cases.md?model=05614VL), [All aircraft, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022052/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot; cases with it: [Zwicker Murray R GLASTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=05614VL), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Copilot; cases with it: [Zwicker Murray R GLASTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=05614VL), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Zwicker Murray R GLASTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05614VL), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094) (defining event); cases with it: [Zwicker Murray R GLASTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05614VL), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Zwicker Murray R GLASTAR, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05614VL), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the amphibious float-equipped airplane reported that, after the owner had completed multiple touch-and-go water landings, he chose to take the flight controls and perform a few water landings himself. He added that his first touch-and-go water landing "went very well." However, during the second touch-and-go water landing, the touchdown was smooth, but as he added power to "begin the climb away," the airplane veered right and nosed over into the water. He added that the right float may have struck a submerged object during the landing. The right wing lift strut sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Inspector who inspected the accident airplane postaccident, the forward first third section of the right float was bent upward and had "scratching and scoring" marks on the bottom side of the float. He added that he did not observe any rust or corrosion on either float. A review of the FAA airman certification database revealed that neither pilot held an airplane single-engine sea rating. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the amphibious float-equipped airplane reported that, after the owner had completed multiple touch-and-go water landings, he elected to take the flight controls and perform a few water landings himself. He added that his first touch-and-go water landing "went very well." However, during the second touch-and-go water landing, the touchdown was smooth, but as he added power to "begin the climb away", the airplane veered right and nosed over into the water. He added that, the right float may have struck a submerged object during the landing. The right wing lift strut sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Inspector who inspected the accident airplane postaccident, the forward first third section of the right float was bent upward and had "scratching and scoring" marks on the bottom side of the float. He added that he did not observe any rust or corrosion on either float. A review of the FAA airman certification database revealed that neither pilot held an airplane single engine sea rating. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N89SR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N89SR-2018-06-01), registration cancelled 2018-06-01, S/N 5492, built 1997 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ZWICKER MURRAY R GLASTAR (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Zwicker Murray R GLASTAR](https://openairdocs.org/model/zwicker-murray-r-glastar) (registry code 05614VL) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-series) (registry code 41575, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 5492 - Year built: 1997 - Engines: LYCOMING O-360 SERIES 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: CCR, CONCORD, CA - Destination: CCR, CONCORD, CA - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review March 1, 2017; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 4,500 total - Other flight crew; age 75; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 46 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KSMF, 30 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 20170430004519A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20170430004519A), Apr 30, 2017: Zwicker Murray R GLASTAR, Napa, CA, Destroyed. Made 3 successful touch and go's on the lake. During the 4th touch and go, upon touchdown, the aircraft spun approximately 250 degrees and flipped upside down. ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 19, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=95227. 4.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454333&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (FAA Inspector) (item 2, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454334&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(FAA%20Inspector)-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (Pilot in Command) (item 3, .PDF, 61 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454335&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot%20in%20Command)-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 3 photos, 421 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40454336&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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.