# NTSB GAA18CA570: Aviat A1, N52DA, Raquette Lake, NY, September 24, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 24, 2018, 14:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Raquette Lake, NY - Coordinates: 43.819999, -74.642219 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.8200&lon=-74.6422&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 8, 2019 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98366 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA570 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98366/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98366 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA570 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain lateral control after landing on water in gusting wind conditions. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/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) - [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Landing: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 24 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the float-equipped airplane reported that, during approach to land on a lake, he aligned the airplane based on wind indications on the water as well as observing other seaplanes. After the water landing, while slowing and coming off the step, a wind gust lifted the airplane's right wing, the left float hit the water, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot and pilot-rated owner egressed and were rescued by boaters. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind was from 090° at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots. A weather station about 8 miles southwest of the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 185° at 7.8 mph, gusting to 10.3 mph. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the float-equipped airplane reported that, during approach to land on a lake, he aligned the airplane based on wind indications on the water as well as observing other seaplanes. After the water landing, while slowing and coming off the step, a wind gust lifted the right wing, the left float dug into the water, and the airplane nosed over. The pilot and pilot rated owner egressed and were rescued by boaters. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing lift strut. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that the wind was from 090° at 10 knots, gusting to 15 knots. A weather station, located about 8 miles to the southwest of the accident site, about the time of the accident, reported temperature 63°F, dew point 46°F, and wind from 185° at 7.8 mph, gusting to 10.3 mph. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N52DA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N52DA), registered now, S/N 2033 (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: 2033 - Year built: 1999 - Airframe hours: 933.5 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1P 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2018 - Departed: Eagle Bay, NY - Destination: Raquette Lake, NY - Equipment: Stall warning system, Electronic multifunction display ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review December 2, 2016; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 2,260 total, 23 in this make and model, 2,186 as pilot in command, 63 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2.2 in the last 24 hours - Pilot-rated passenger; age 67; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea; medical: basicmed; last flight review May 23, 2018; seat: rear; flight hours: 1,679 total, 90 in this make and model, 1,520 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 8 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 90° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.45 inHg - Observed at: KSLK, 39 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 20180924014069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180924014069A), Sep 24, 2018: Aviat Aircraft Inc A-1B, Old Forge, NY, Substantial damage. This accident occurred on septemeber 24, 2018 at 2:00 pm on raquette lake, NY, near the Old Forge Airport (NK26). The aircraft is registered as N52DA, a husky… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 14, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98366. 3.9 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=40469495&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Weather Excerpt (item 2, .PDF, 122 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469496&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Weather%20Excerpt-Master.PDF - Accident Photo (item 3, .PDF, 156 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40469497&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photo-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.