# NTSB LAX01LA176: Leonard Walters Avid Magnum, N21911, Lake Shasta, CA, May 13, 2001 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: May 12, 2001, 19:40 local (May 13, 2001, 02:40 UTC) - Place: Lake Shasta, CA - Coordinates: 40.757778, -122.323333 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=40.7578&lon=-122.3233&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 28, 2002 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: WP-FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 52299 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX01LA176 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/52299/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX01LA176 ## Probable cause A loss of control on final approach due to encountering a strong wind gust and downdraft. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - weather condition - gusts (cause) - weather condition - downdraft (cause) - descent - uncontrolled, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, approach - vfr pattern - final approach - terrain condition - water - descent - uncontrolled, pilot in command ## Analysis At the conclusion of a 30-minute-long flight, the pilot encountered light to moderate turbulence on approach to the lake in his experimental seaplane. About 50 feet above the water, he experienced a strong downdraft and applied engine power to decrease his 1,000-foot-per-minute descent rate. Suddenly, the airplane pitched downward and impacted the water. Thirty-knot wind gusts were subsequently noted in the area. ## Factual narrative On May 12, 2001, about 1940 hours Pacific daylight time, a homebuilt Walters Avid Magnum, N21911, touched down hard on Lake Shasta, California. The seaplane was substantially damaged. Neither the commercial certificated pilot, who owned and operated the experimental airplane, nor the passenger was injured during the personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was performed under 14 CFR Part 91, and originated from a lake near Oroville, California, about 1850. In the pilot's completed accident report, he indicated that light to moderate turbulence was experienced during his landing approach to the lake. He stated that he encountered a "terrible downdraft." With very little forward ground speed, his airplane descended at 1,000 feet per minute. Despite application of engine power, he was unable to climb out of the downdraft. Suddenly, about 50 feet above the water, the airplane pitched downward and impacted the water at a 45-degree angle. The pilot additionally reported that an acquaintance of his indicated that, at the time of the accident, there were 30-knot wind gusts in the vicinity. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N21911](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N21911-2009-01-15), registration cancelled 2009-01-15, S/N 37M, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Leonard Walters Avid Magnum - Registry model: [Walters Leonard AVID MAGNUM](https://openairdocs.org/model/walters-leonard-avid-magnum) (registry code 05625Q6) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 37M - Airframe hours: 418 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: William Duval - Registered owner: William Duval, Trustees - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 2, 2001, 12 hours before - Departed: NONE, Oroville, CA - Destination: Q83, Lake Shasta, CA - Airport: Q83, Bridge Bay Resort ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 18, 2001; seat: left; flight hours: 6,120 total, 500 in this make and model, 5,712 as pilot in command, 107 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 36 °F - Altimeter: 29.80 inHg - Observed at: RDD, 14 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 20010512010909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20010512010909A), May 12, 2001: Amtr AVIDMAGNUM, Lake Shasta, CA, No damage. (-23)The pilot of the amateur built airplane was maneuvering at approximately 500 feet AGL in preparation for landing. Suddenly, he encountered gusty winds and… 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.