# NTSB NYC98LA187: Ankenbruck Searey, N219LJ, Chippewa Lake, OH, September 14, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: September 14, 1998, 18:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Chippewa Lake, OH - Coordinates: 41.070812, -81.899261 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.0708&lon=-81.8993&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report February 15, 2001 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 44058 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA187 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/44058/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA187 ## Probable cause Encounter with swells from a boat wake. A factor in the accident was the pilot's inadequate initial training. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of control - on ground/water, landing - roll - terrain condition - large wave/swell (cause) - inadequate initial training, pilot in command (contributing factor) - insufficient standards/requirements,airman, faa(organization) ## Analysis The airplane landed on a smooth lake, and encountered a wake from the only boat that was operating at the time. The pilot increased power to get up 'on step,' and when the airplane hit the wake, it bounced up into the air about 3 feet. It came down into a second wake, the nose dug into the water and broke off, and the airplane flipped over. The pilot's seaplane transition training consisted of a checkout from his partner, and 8 to 10 water landings. He had 34 water landings at the time of the accident. Neither he nor his partner had a 'single-engine sea' airplane class rating. However, 14 CFR Part 61.31(k)(2) stated that rating limitations did not apply, even when carrying passengers, to '(iii) The holder of a pilot certificate when operating an aircraft under the authority of an experimental or provisional aircraft type certificate.' The pilot and his partner had planned on attending formal training during the upcoming winter. ## Factual narrative On September 14, 1998, about 1830 Eastern Daylight Time, a homebuilt SeaRey, N219LJ, was substantially damaged during a water landing on Chippewa Lake, Ohio. The certificated private pilot and his passenger received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. No flight plan was filed for the flight between Wadsworth Municipal Airport (3G3), Ohio, and Chippewa Lake. The personal flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91. Chippewa Lake was about 2,500 feet across and 5,000 feet in length. According to the pilot, the airplane landed on the smooth lake, and he "noticed boat wakes rolling across the lake" from the only boat on the lake. The pilot increased power, and tried to get up "on step" before hitting the wake. The airplane hit the wake hard, and bounced up into the air about 3 feet. It came down into a second wake, the nose dug into the water and broke off, and the airplane flipped over. The pilot stated that he had accomplished 34 water landings when the accident occurred. He also said that his seaplane transition training consisted of a checkout by his partner, and 8 to 10 water landings. Neither he nor his partner had a "single-engine sea" airplane class rating. However, CFR Part 61.31(k)(2) stated that rating limitations did not apply, even when carrying passengers, to "(iii) The holder of a pilot certificate when operating an aircraft under the authority of an experimental or provisional aircraft type certificate." The pilot stated that he and his partner had planned on attending formal training during the upcoming winter. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N219LJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N219LJ-2004-08-13), registration cancelled 2004-08-13, S/N 1DK014, built 1994 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ankenbruck SEAREY - Registry model: [Ankenbruck Wayne R SEAREY](https://openairdocs.org/model/ankenbruck-wayne-r-searey) (registry code 05624YG) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1DK014 - Airframe hours: 200 - Engines: Rotax 912 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: John M. Bonnett - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, June 15, 1998, 30 hours before - Departed: 3G3, WADSWORTH, OH - Destination: NONE ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 160 total, 30 in this make and model, 105 as pilot in command, 33 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 84 °F 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.