# NTSB GAA17CA574: Cessna 208, N802TW, New York, NY, July 21, 2017 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 21, 2017, 17:20 local (21:20 UTC) - Place: New York, NY - Coordinates: 40.734165, -73.972778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7342&lon=-73.9728&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 9 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 21, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 96276 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA17CA574 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/96276/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96276 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA17CA574 ## Probable cause The airplane’s encounter with boat wake and multiple swells during a water takeoff. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 208, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=2073702), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: choppy surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023030): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna 208, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023030/cases.md?model=2073702), [All aircraft, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Miscellaneous/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna 208, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md?model=2073702), [All aircraft, 1,556 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/900/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Cessna 208, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=2073702), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the float-equipped airplane reported that, during a water takeoff and about 50 knots, the airplane encountered boat wake, which caused the airplane to become airborne prematurely. He added that the airplane landed on a swell and became airborne again. During the second touchdown, the airplane struck another swell and touched down hard. The pilot aborted the takeoff. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The director of operations for the company reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the float-equipped airplane reported that, during a water takeoff, about 50 knots, the airplane encountered boat wake, which caused the airplane to become airborne prematurely. He added that the airplane landed on a swell and became airborne again. During the second touchdown, the airplane struck another swell, and touched down hard. The pilot aborted the takeoff. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the empennage. The director of operations for the company reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N802TW](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N802TW-2019-11-04), registration cancelled 2019-11-04, S/N 20800300, built 1999 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA 208 (A) - Registry model: [Cessna 208](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-208) (registry code 2073702) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney PT6A series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-pt6a-series) (registry code 52032, turbo-prop) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 20800300 - Year built: 1999 - Airframe hours: 1909.2 - Engines: P&W PT6A SER turbo prop - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Part 135 - Operator: Volo Aviation Inc - Registered owner: Tailwind Air Service LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 15, 2016 - Departed: 6N7, NEW YORK, NY - Destination: HTO, EAST HAMPTON, NY - Flight plan: Company VFR - Airport: 6N7, New York Skyports Inc, runway N, 10,000 × 1,000 ft, water - Equipment: Auto-pilot ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 16, 2017; seat: left; restraint: 3-point ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.86 inHg - Observed at: KJRB, 3 nm away ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 18, 2017, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=96276. 11.8 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458885&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 8.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458886&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (Courtesy of FAA) (item 3, .PDF, 1 photo, 146 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40458887&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo%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.