MIA03CA063

NTSB accident investigation · Consolidated Aeronautics LA-4-200 · Blountstown, FL · December 2, 2002

Accident · No injuriesData collectionFinal report
Date
December 2, 2002, 14:30 local (19:30 UTC)
Place
Blountstown, FL
Injuries
2 uninjured
Damage
Substantial damage
Phase of flight
Takeoff
Aircraft
N6193VConsolidated Aeronautics LA-4-200
Weather
Visual (VMC) · Day
Status
Completed · report November 25, 2003
Report
Approved by Office Director
Parties
FAA FSDO
FAA report
20021202035859A
Case key
56535

From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.

On this page

Probable cause

The failure of the certified flight instructor (CFI) to maintain clearance between the wingtip and a water marker bouy resulting in contact with the wingtip.

Sequence of events

NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.

On ground/water collision with objectTakeoff - roll/run
Clearance - not maintainedPilot in command(cfi)Cause
Object - other

Analysis

The airplane owner/pilot-rated student stated that after takeoff while flying over the Apalachicola River, the CFI advised him that he wanted to demonstrate an engine-out landing on water, and took the flight controls. The CFI landed the airplane on the water then applied power to takeoff. During the takeoff run and on step taxi facing a green colored buoy ahead, the CFI asked him what side of the buoy to go on. The owner/pilot-rated student stated that he replied the left side, and the CFI maneuvered the airplane to the left, but a portion of the right wing collided with the buoy. The airplane rotated 90 degrees to the right and came to rest. The airplane was taxied on the river to a boat ramp where the airplane was secured. The CFI advised him that the occurrence was an incident and not an accident, therefore; was not reportable. The CFI stated that the training flight departed from Apalachicola Municipal Airport with the owner-operator in the left pilot seat, and himself (CFI) in the right seat. The CFI demonstrated a power-off emergency landing on the Apalachicola River and while water taxiing approaching a marine channel marker, the aircraft encountered a rogue current or submerged object. The airplane was turned to the right causing the right wing tip to impact the channel marker. The aircraft was then water taxied upstream to a boat launching ramp where the airplane was taxied onto land and secured. The occurrence was reported by the airplane owner to the NTSB on February 19, 2003. The NTSB determined the airplane was substantially damaged and was classified an accident.

Factual narrative

On December 2, 2002, about 1430 eastern standard time, a Consolidated Aeronautics, Inc., LA-4-200, N6193V, registered to a private individual, collided with a buoy located on the Apalachicola River, near Blountstown, Florida. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 instructional flight. The airplane was substantially damaged and the certified flight instructor (CFI) and pilot-rated student were not injured. The flight originated about 1300, from the Apalachicola Municipal Airport, Apalachicola, Florida.

The airplane owner/pilot-rated student stated that after takeoff while flying over the Apalachicola River, the CFI advised him that he wanted to demonstrate an engine-out landing on water, and took the flight controls. The CFI landed the airplane on the water then applied power to takeoff. During the takeoff run and on step taxi facing a green colored buoy ahead, the CFI asked him what side of the buoy to go on. The owner/pilot-rated student stated that he replied the left side, and the CFI maneuvered the airplane to the left, but a portion of the right wing collided with the buoy. The airplane rotated 90 degrees to the right and came to rest. The airplane was taxied on the river to a boat ramp where the airplane was secured. The CFI advised him that the occurrence was an incident and not an accident, therefore; was not reportable.

The CFI stated that the training flight departed from Apalachicola Municipal Airport with the owner-operator in the left pilot seat, and himself (CFI) in the right seat. The CFI demonstrated a power-off emergency landing on the Apalachicola River and while water taxiing approaching a marine channel marker, the aircraft encountered a rogue current or submerged object. The airplane was turned to the right causing the right wing tip to impact the channel marker. The aircraft was then water taxied upstream to a boat launching ramp where the airplane was taxied onto land and secured.

The occurrence was reported by the airplane owner to the NTSB on February 19, 2003. The NTSB determined the airplane was substantially damaged and was classified an accident.

Aircraft

Registration
N6193V
Reported as
Consolidated Aeronautics LA-4-200
Category
Airplane
Serial number
846
Airframe hours
1,532
Engine
Lycoming IO-360-A1B, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
Damage
Substantial damage
Flight
Instructional · Part 91
Registered owner
James S. Little
Airworthiness certificate
Standard, Normal
Last inspection
Annual · October 2, 2002 · 30 hours before
Departed
AAF · Apalachicola, FL
Destination
AAF · FL

Flight crew · 2

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

Role
Flight instructor
Age
78
Injuries
None
Certificates
Airline transport, Flight instructor
Airplane ratings
Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land, Single-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 1
Last flight review
February 13, 2003
Seat
Right
Flight hours
20,000 total · 100 in this make and model
Role
Student pilot
Age
46
Certificates
Commercial, Private
Airplane ratings
Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
Instrument ratings
Airplane
Medical
Class 3
Flight hours
1,717 total · 28 in this make and model

Weather

Conditions
Visual (VMC) · Day
Wind
Variable at 8 knots
Visibility
10 statute miles
Temperature
167 °F

FAA reports on this event · 1

The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.