- Date
- November 25, 2007, 16:00 local (21:00 UTC)
- Place
- Jacksonville, FL
- Injuries
- 2 minor
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Maneuvering
- Aircraft
- N1055LLake LA-4-200
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 28, 2008
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- Parties
- Orlando FSDO
- Case key
- 67152
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 pilot's failure to maintain altitude while maneuvering over water. Contributing to the accident was glassy water conditions.
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.
Analysis
According to the pilot, the "flight departed VFR from KVQQ at 15:55 for flight to KCRG. After departing Class D airspace to [the] southeast the pilot descended over the St. Johns River approximately 1/2 na[utical] mile offshore to practice reading wind direction from [the] water surface. The winds were very light and [the] water surface [was] mostly glassy. [The] pilot descended from about 2,500 ft. to approximately 100 ft. above [the] water and made several circles to [the] right to view [the] water. [The] pilot then leveled [the] wings and the [air]plane then bounced unexpectedly on the water and made about two more bounces before spinning to the left. [The] aircraft came to a stop and [the] pilot and passenger exited [the] cockpit onto [the] wing and were picked up by a passing motor boat. The plane sank after about 3 minutes." The pilot further stated that "this accident was caused by a glassy water condition and the pilot loosing depth perception. [The] pilot had no intention of landing and was practicing reading water for wind direction where wind was very light or none at all. [The] pilot had been endorsed on September 11, 2007 for SES [Single Engine Sea] practical testing but had not taken [the] check ride."
Factual narrative
According to the pilot, the "flight departed VFR from KVQQ at 15:55 for flight to KCRG. After departing Class D airspace to [the] southeast the pilot descended over the St. Johns River approximately 1/2 na[utical] mile offshore to practice reading wind direction from [the] water surface. The winds were very light and [the] water surface [was] mostly glassy. [The] pilot descended from about 2,500 ft. to approximately 100 ft. above [the] water and made several circles to [the] right to view [the] water. [The] pilot then leveled [the] wings and the [air]plane then bounced unexpectedly on the water and made about two more bounces before spinning to the left. [The] aircraft came to a stop and [the] pilot and passenger exited [the] cockpit onto [the] wing and were picked up by a passing motor boat. The plane sank after about 3 minutes." The pilot further stated that "this accident was caused by a glassy water condition and the pilot loosing depth perception. [The] pilot had no intention of landing and was practicing reading water for wind direction where wind was very light or none at all. [The] pilot had been endorsed on September 11, 2007 for SES [Single Engine Sea] practical testing but had not taken [the] check ride."
Aircraft
- Registration
- N1055L
- Reported as
- Lake LA-4-200
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 648
- Airframe hours
- 1,435.04
- Engine
- Lycoming IO-360-A1B, 200 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Fire
- On-Ground
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Pavel Budnik
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · June 1, 2007 · 4.96 hours before
- Departed
- KVQQ · Jacksonville, FL
- Destination
- KCRG · Jacksonville, FL
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 36
- Injuries
- Minor
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 1, 2007
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 325 total · 320 in this make and model · 1 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 50° at 6 knots
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 70 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.12 inHg
- Observed at
- KCRG