- Date
- May 13, 1994, 17:35 local (21:35 UTC)
- Place
- Hempstead, NY
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Takeoff
- Aircraft
- N30NCCessna A185F
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report November 18, 1994
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 19940513010799A
- Case key
- 38750
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 inadvertent collision with a hidden obstruction after swerving to avoid birds during a water 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 amphibian-equipped airplane started the water takeoff. The pilot stated: 'to avoid birds I adjusted to [the] left, to avoid marsh I went further left where I ran out of water.' The airplane impacted the shallow marsh and nosed over.
Factual narrative
On Friday, May 13, 1994, at 1735 eastern daylight time, an amphibian-equipped Cessna A185F, N30NC, registered to Larry Wallach and piloted by Arthur W. Watkins, sustained substantial damage during an attempted takeoff on Hewlett Bay, Hempstead, New York. The pilot received minor injuries, and the passenger was not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was being conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.
The pilot stated that he was conducting a water takeoff in a westerly direction, when he made a turn to avoid birds. He also reported, "To avoid [a] marsh I went further left, where I ran out of water."
The airplane entered shallow water, impacted terrain and nosed over. Both occupants were able to evacuate the airplane through the cabin door.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N30NC
- Reported as
- Cessna A185F
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 18503900
- Airframe hours
- 4,584
- Engine
- Continental IO-520-D, 300 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- Larry Wallach
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Last inspection
- Annual · November 20, 1993 · 190 hours before
- Departed
- NONE
- Destination
- ISP · Islip, NY
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 41
- Certificates
- Flight instructor, Airline transport
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine sea, Single-engine land, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 1, Valid Medical--no waivers/lim.
- Seat
- Left
- Flight hours
- 14,000 total · 1,100 in this make and model · 13,000 as pilot in command · 185 in the last 90 days · 44 in the last 30 days · 10 in the last 24 hours
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- 320° at 17 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility
- 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 61 °F, dew point 21 °F
- Altimeter
- 29.00 inHg
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.