# NTSB NYC98LA141: Champion 7GCG, N9985Y, Neavitt, MD, July 4, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 4, 1998, 11:15 local (15:15 UTC) - Place: Neavitt, MD - Coordinates: 38.720058, -76.280014 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7201&lon=-76.2800&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report August 3, 1999 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 43206 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA141 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/43206/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA141 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - in flight, takeoff - initial climb - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The pilot positioned the airplane for a water departure, and advanced the throttle. The airplane then accelerated normally, and became airborne about 60 mph. When the airplane broke the water it pulled to the right. The pilot said he thought this was normal because on most water departures one float will come off the water first causing a slight turn in the opposite direction. However, in this case the turn to the right continued. The pilot tried to stop the turn with left stick, and left rudder but found them ineffective. The airplane then struck the water, right float and right wing first, flipped over, and came to rest inverted. Both the pilot and passenger had life-vests on, and exited the airplane from underwater. Winds were reported calm by a witness and flight control continuity was established. The airplane's floats showed minimal corrosion and all the chambers were intact. The pilot had approximately 30 hours of float plane experience, and he received his seaplane rating about July 1993. ## Factual narrative On July 4, 1998, approximately 1115 eastern daylight time, a Champion 7GCB, N9985Y, was substantially damaged when it impacted the water after takeoff from a creek near Neavitt, Maryland. The certificated private pilot and passenger sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan had been filed for the personal flight conducted under 14 CFR Part 91 The pilot stated that he departed the South River by Annapolis, Maryland, and flew across the bay to Neavitt. He added, the landing on Leadenham Creek near Mulbery Point, Maryland, was normal, and that he observed no problems with the airplane during the flight or landing. According to the pilot, after landing, he water taxied the airplane back to approximately the touchdown point before starting his takeoff run. The pilot said the airplane felt normal as it accelerated to takeoff speed, and became airborne about 60 mph. When the airplane broke the water it pulled to the right. The pilot said he thought this was normal because on most water departures one float will come off the water first causing a slight turn in the opposite direction. However, in this case the turn to the right continued. The pilot tried to stop the turn with left stick, and left rudder but found them ineffective. The airplane then stuck the water right float and right wing first, flipped over, and came to rest inverted. Both the pilot and passenger had life-vest on, and exited the airplane from underwater. A witness reported, "The wind was calm, very, very, calm. There was not a breath of fresh air." In a telephone memorandum for record, a Federal Aviation Administration Inspector stated that flight control continuity was established for both the elevator and rudder. Flight control continuity was also established for the ailerons, but the right aileron was damage requiring its connecting rod to be removed. The Inspector also stated that the floats showed "minimal corrosion" and that all the chambers in the floats looked "good." The pilot stated that he had approximately 30 hours of float plane experience at the time of the accident, and he received his seaplane rating about July 1993. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N9985Y](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N9985Y-2018-06-04), registration cancelled 2018-06-04, S/N 7GCB-185 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Champion 7GCG - Registry model: [Champion 7GCB](https://openairdocs.org/model/champion-7gcb) (registry code 21101PC) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming 0-320 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-0-320-series) (registry code 41508, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 185 - Airframe hours: 8000 - Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Chesapeake Bay Sea Plane Pilot - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, February 24, 1998, 25 hours before - Departed: NONE, ANNAPOLIS, MD - Destination: NONE, MD ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 52; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: front; flight hours: 261 total, 27 in this make and model, 136 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 11 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 6 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: BWI, 36 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 19980704015959A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980704015959A), Jul 4, 1998: Bbavia 7GCB, Neavitt, MD, Substantial damage. Acft attempted to takeoff from a creek in about 20 feet of water, lost power, flipped over and sank.(-23) pilot took off in a westerly direction from a… ## Other investigations on N9985Y (1) 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. - [NTSB ANC96LA063](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC96LA063), May 2, 1996: Champion 7GCB (N9985Y), Dillingham, AK, substantial damage. Probable cause: failure of the pilot to maintain directional control during the landing, which resulted in an inadvertent ground loop/swerve. 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.