# NTSB LAX07CA264: Aeronca S15AC, N1118H, Shelton, WA, September 3, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 3, 2007, 14:31 local (21:31 UTC) - Place: Shelton, WA - Coordinates: 47.333332, -122.949996 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.3333&lon=-122.9500&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 29, 2007 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 66603 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX07CA264 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66603/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX07CA264 ## Probable cause The pilot's loss of control during takeoff following the inadvertent encounter with a boat's wake. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - large wave/swell - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - ground loop/swerve - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - Dragged wing,rotor,pod,float or tail/skid, takeoff - roll/run - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The float plane pilot inadvertently encountered a boat's wake during takeoff, and he lost directional control. The airplane swerved left. The pilot attempted to, but was unsuccessful at, correcting the flight path, and the right wing impacted the water. ## Factual narrative On September 3, 2007, about 1431 Pacific daylight time, a float equipped Aeronca S15AC, N1118H, impacted the water following a loss of control during a water takeoff from Mason Lake, near Shelton, Washington. The float plane was owned and operated by the pilot, and it was substantially damaged. Neither the commercial pilot nor passenger was injured during the personal flight. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time, and no flight plan had been filed. The flight was performed under the provisions of 14 CFR Part 91, and it was commencing at the time of the accident. The pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board investigator that during takeoff on the lake the front portion of the left float caught the wake from a boat. Thereafter, the airplane swerved left. The pilot attempted to, but was unsuccessful at, correcting the flight path, and directional control was lost. The airplane's right wing tip impacted the water. The airplane swerved farther left and was damaged. Following recovery of the airplane, an estimated 2-foot-long span of the right wing's leading edge, outbound section, was found crushed in an aft direction. Also, the inboard, aft portion of the right wing was buckled. About 1/3 of the forward portion of both floats was bent upward. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N1118H](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N1118H), registered now, S/N 15AC-134 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aeronca S15AC - Registry model: [Aeronca S15AC](https://openairdocs.org/model/aeronca-s15ac) (registry code 0191204) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0-360-B1E](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0-360-b1e) (registry code 41559, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 15AC-134 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1A reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William A. Morris - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Departed: Shelton, WA - Destination: Shelton, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 68; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 3,000 total, 200 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none ## 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 20070903018849A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070903018849A), Sep 3, 2007: Aronca S15AC, Mason Lake, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) On 09/03/2007 N1118H, an Aeronca S15AC on floats piloted by [privacy data omitted] was taking off from Mason Lake, WA, when the aircraft float hit a boat… ## Other investigations on N1118H (1) 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. - [NTSB SEA71DWD16](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA71DWD16), Sep 8, 1970: Aeronca 15AC (N1118H), Olympia, WA, substantial damage 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.