# NTSB LAX96LA031: Piper PA-18, N6988B, Bullhead City, AZ, October 30, 1995 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 30, 1995, 07:30 local (14:30 UTC) - Place: Bullhead City, AZ - Coordinates: 35.139396, -114.490242 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=35.1394&lon=-114.4902&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 29, 1996 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 29327 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX96LA031 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/29327/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX96LA031 ## Probable cause The failure of the pilot/flight instructor to adequately supervise the student pilot resulting in loss of directional control, and his abrupt overcorrection resulting in a waterloop. A contributing factor was the pilot's limited experience as a flight instructor. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - directional control - not maintained, dual student - supervision - inadequate, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command(cfi) (contributing factor) - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, landing - roll - remedial action - excessive, pilot in command(cfi) (cause) - water loop/swerve - inadvertent, pilot in command(cfi) ## Analysis AFTER LANDING ON GLASSY WATER IN CALM WIND CONDITIONS, THE STUDENT PILOT LOST DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE FLOATPLANE AND IT VEERED TOWARD THE SHORELINE. THE FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR MADE AN ABRUPT RUDDER PEDAL INPUT TO AVOID RUNNING AGROUND AND THE AIRCRAFT WATERLOOPED. THE RECENTLY CERTIFICATED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR HAD ACQUIRED 14 HOURS OF FLIGHT INSTRUCTION EXPERIENCE, OF WHICH 6 HOURS WERE IN FLOATPLANES. THE STUDENT PILOT WAS MAKING HIS FIRST FLOATPLANE LANDING WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED. ## Factual narrative On October 30, 1995, at 0730 hours mountain standard time, a Piper PA-18 floatplane, N6988B, waterlooped while landing on the Colorado River, 5 miles south of Bullhead City, Arizona. The dual instructional flight was operated by Sheble Riviera Aviation and had departed from the operator's seaplane base at Bullhead City at 0715. The aircraft sustained substantial damage. The commercial licensed flight instructor and the private licensed student pilot were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The flight instructor reported that after takeoff the flight proceeded southbound 5 miles to an area where the river is approximately 200 feet wide, and where the operator regularly practices touch-and-go landings. Surface winds were calm and the water was "glassy". The student pilot was in the front seat operating the controls and planned a landing to the south on the river. The instructor reported that "we landed on both floats when suddenly the aircraft veered left and headed for the beach." To avoid running aground, the instructor "stepped on" the right rudder and the aircraft waterlooped to the right, breaking the float fittings and damaging the left wing. Both pilots were operating the flight controls during the waterloop maneuver. The aircraft came to rest near the east shore of the river pointing northward. The recently certificated flight instructor reported 14 hours of dual instruction, including 6 hours in floatplanes. The student pilot was making his first floatplane landing when the accident occurred. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6988B](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N6988B-2018-09-25), registration cancelled 2018-09-25, S/N 18-5110, built 1956 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PIPER PA-18 - Registry model: [Piper PA-18A 150](https://openairdocs.org/model/piper-pa-18a-150) (registry code 7101837) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18-510 - Airframe hours: 4800 - Engines: LYCOMING O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Sheble Riviera Aviation - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, August 21, 1995, 50 hours before - Departed: AZ ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 36; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: rear; flight hours: 756 total, 70 in this make and model, 662 as pilot in command, 158 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 20 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: IFP, 10 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 19951030037279A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19951030037279A), Oct 30, 1995: Piper PA18A150, Bullhead City, AZ, Substantial damage. Students first water landing on river. Veered toward shore. CFI stomped on opposite rudder. Aircraft water looped. 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.