- Date
- November 8, 2006, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC)
- Place
- Hilton, NY
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N5016WUtva 66 V-51
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report February 26, 2007
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20061108028179A
- Case key
- 64841
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 inadequate visual lookout, which resulted in a collision with a dock during takeoff.
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
The pilot added full power during takeoff from the water, and "everything [was] good." The pilot lifted the left float, and as the airplane got airborne, the prop "pulled left." The pilot observed one dock, but didn't see a second dock, which the airplane impacted and then sank. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical deficiencies.
Factual narrative
In a written statement the pilot of the Piper PA-11, reported that he added full power during takeoff from the water, and "everything [was] good." The pilot lifted the left float, and as the airplane got airborne, the prop "pulled left." The pilot observed one dock, but didn't see a second dock, which the airplane impacted and then sank. Examination of the airplane revealed no mechanical deficiencies.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N5016W
- Reported as
- Utva 66 V-51
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 0837
- Airframe hours
- 2,587
- Engine
- Lycoming 650, 340 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Mark Gillette
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · July 1, 2006
- Departed
- NONE · Greece, NY
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
- 42
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land
- Medical
- Class 3, With waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- September 1, 2006
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 462 total · 12 in this make and model · 393 as pilot in command · 15 in the last 90 days · 2 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- 1,700 ft broken
- Temperature
- 59 °F, dew point 55 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.63 inHg
- Observed at
- ROC, 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.