# NTSB MIA07CA138: Anthony J. Bencivenga Aventura II, N444LT, Okeechobee, FL, September 1, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: September 1, 2007, 09:45 local (13:45 UTC) - Place: Okeechobee, FL - Coordinates: 27.2627777777778, -80.8497222222222 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=27.2628&lon=-80.8497&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 31, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Orlando FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 66567 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA07CA138 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/66567/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA07CA138 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the airplane during landing, which resulted in the pilot being inadvertently ejected and the airplane's impact with the water during an uncontrolled descent. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, approach - directional control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - maneuver - abrupt, pilot in command - miscellaneous, pilot in command - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The pilot stated that he departed from the Okeechobee Airport and headed toward the lake to practice touch and go landings on the water. When he arrived at the lake, he turned into the wind, which caused the nose of the airplane to rise. He over corrected, causing the nose to dip sharply. He had his hand on the throttle. The abrupt movement made him apply full throttle and push the flight controls to the left, which made the airplane make a sharp left turn throwing him out the right side of the airplane. The airplane leveled itself off and flew about a mile before it came down and flipped over in the shallow water. A friend, who was flying with him in his own airplane, saw what had happened. The friend called for help and got the attention of a nearby fisherman, who came to his aid and brought him to the shore. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident. ## Factual narrative The pilot stated he departed from the Okeechobee Airport and headed toward the lake to practice touch and go landings on the water. When he arrived at the lake, he turned into the wind, which caused the nose of the airplane to rise. He over corrected, causing the nose to dip sharply. He had his hand on the throttle. The abrupt movement made him apply full throttle and push the flight controls to the left, which the airplane made a sharp left turn throwing him out the right side of the airplane. The airplane leveled itself off and flew about a mile before it came down and flipped over in the shallow water. A friend, whom was flying with him in his own airplane, saw what had happened. The friend called for help and got the attention of a nearby fisherman, which come to his aid and brought him to the shore. The pilot stated there were no mechanical failures or malfunctions to the airplane or any of its systems prior to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N444LT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N444LT-2018-01-23), registration cancelled 2018-01-23, S/N AP2A0094, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Anthony J. Bencivenga Aventura II - Registry model: [Bencivenga Anthony J AVENTURA II](https://openairdocs.org/model/bencivenga-anthony-j-aventura-ii) (registry code 05619D7) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: AP2A0094 - Airframe hours: 140 - Engines: Rotax 912ULS reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Anthony J. Bencivenga - Registered owner: Anthony J. Bencivenga - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: KOBE, Okeechobee, FL - Airport: KOBE, Okeechobee ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 66; sport pilot; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: sport pilot; flight hours: 140 total, 140 in this make and model, 25 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 88 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 30.01 inHg ## 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 20070901022419A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070901022419A), Sep 1, 2007: Amtr AVENTURAII, Okeechobee, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On September 1st, 2007 at approximately 9:45 am, an experimental amateur built aventura ii seaplane crashed into lake Okeechobee Florida following… 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.