# NTSB NYC00LA011: Cessna 172I, N35669, N. East Carry, ME, October 9, 1999 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: October 9, 1999, 08:15 local (12:15 UTC) - Place: N. East Carry, ME - Location: 45.8664° N, 69.6264° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of North East Carry, ME, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.8664&lon=-69.6264&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report June 22, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 47556 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC00LA011 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/47556/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC00LA011 ## Probable cause The pilot's decision to attempt a takeoff under gusty wind and rough water conditions. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water encounter with terrain/water, takeoff - roll/run - weather condition - gusts - terrain condition - water,rough - planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis During a water takeoff run, the airplane became airborne, the right wing dipped, and the right float hit a wave. The airplane became airborne again, then rolled right, and flipped over. The takeoff was attempted under gusty wind and rough water conditions, with swells in excess of 3 feet. The pilot wrote that the indicated airspeed after becoming airborne was 'not good,' and that he probably should have waited for the wind and water conditions to improve. ## Factual narrative On October 9, 1999, about 0815 Eastern Daylight Time, a float-equipped Cessna 172I, N35669, was substantially damaged during an attempted water takeoff from Moosehead Lake, near North East Carry, Maine. The certificated private pilot and the passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed for the local flight, which was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. According to the pilot, the morning started out overcast and rainy. About 0745 the weather started to clear, and by 0800 the visibility was good, but it had become windy, and the surface of the lake was rough. After startup, the pilot water-taxied the airplane out of a cove, then started the takeoff run. The pilot further stated: "Plane came up onto step, and airspeed started to increase at this time. Plane went off a wave and became airborne, the right wing dipped and we hit a wave with the float. This caused us to become airborne again. Airspeed was not good and wind was gusting. I believe the high wing stalled. We rolled and struck the water." The pilot also wrote that he "probably should [have] waited to see if wind and water would calm down." A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector reported that, at the time of the accident, swells on the lake were in excess of 3 feet. Weather recorded at an airport about 130 degrees magnetic, 45 nautical miles from the accident site, 33 minutes after the accident, included winds from 230 degrees magnetic at 8 knots, gusting to 15 knots, with winds varying from 200 to 270 degrees magnetic. At the same time, winds recorded at an airport about 170 degrees magnetic, 75 miles from the accident site, were from 200 degrees magnetic, at 13 knots, gusting to 25 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N35669](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N35669), registered now, S/N 17256897, built 1968 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Cessna 172I - Registry model: [Cessna 172I](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-172i) (registry code 2072426) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 17256897 - Airframe hours: 2453 - Engines: Lycoming O-320-E2A 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: William R. Brown, Trustee - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, May 2, 1999, 33 hours before - Departed: NONE - Destination: ME12, LIVERMORE, ME ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 67; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 1,000 total, 125 in this make and model, 1,000 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 230° at 8 knots, gusting 15 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 1,300 ft overcast - Temperature: 52 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: MLT, 45 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 19991009046079A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19991009046079A), Oct 9, 1999: Cessna 172I, Northeastcarry, ME, No damage. (-23) During take-off run, the aircraft became airborne, settled back down, bounced, became airborne again, then rolled right, hit the water and flipped over.… 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.