# NTSB SEA94LA181: Consolidated Aeronautics PBY-5A, N2172N, Lincoln City, OR, July 8, 1994 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 8, 1994, 10:00 local (17:00 UTC) - Place: Lincoln City, OR - Coordinates: 44.939651, -123.939834 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=44.9397&lon=-123.9398&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 13, 1995 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 41977 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA94LA181 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/41977/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA94LA181 ## Probable cause THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM A BOAT DOCK DURING THE ABORTED TAKEOFF. FACTORS INCLUDE THE PILOT'S POOR INFLIGHT DECISION TO LAND ON A NARROW LAKE UNDER UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS, AND STRONG CROSSWINDS DURING THE ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - On ground/water collision with object, takeoff - aborted - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command (contributing factor) - weather condition - high wind (contributing factor) - weather condition - crosswind (contributing factor) ## Analysis WHILE ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF IN STRONG CROSSWINDS FROM A NARROW LAKE, THE PILOT WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. HE THEREFORE ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF, BUT EXPERIENCED 'LIMITED STEERABILITY' BECAUSE THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT WATER-RUDDER EQUIPPED. AS THE AIRCRAFT SLOWED, THE PILOT WAS NOT ABLE TO KEEP IT FROM IMPACTING A NEARBY BOAT DOCK. ## Factual narrative On July 8, 1994, at 1000 Pacific daylight time (PDT), a Consolidated PBY-5A, N2172N, collided with a boat dock during an aborted takeoff on Devil's Lake, Lincoln City, Oregon. The certified flight instructor and his student were not injured, but the aircraft sustained substantial damage. The local instructional flight, which departed Astoria, Oregon about 0930, was being operated in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and there was no report of an ELT activation. According to the flight instructor, the purpose of the flight was to give dual instruction, and to land on a body of water to check for leaks in the hull. In order to check the hull, the pilot elected to land on a narrow lake, which averaged between one- quarter and one-half mile wide in the area where he landed. At the time of the landing, the winds were blowing at a speed estimated by the pilot to be about 25 knots, and at an angle of 20 to 70 degrees from the direction of the takeoff run dictated by the main channel of the lake. After the landing, the pilot was advised that there was a leak in the hull, and he decided that he should take off, and make his next landing at an airport on land. Because the aircraft is not water-rudder equipped, the pilot could not turn it to taxi downwind, so he was unable to use the full length of the lake for his takeoff run. Instead, he elected to initiate the takeoff run from where the aircraft had come to a stop after the landing. Just after getting the aircraft on the step during the takeoff run, it began turning into the wind, and the pilot found he had to use full opposite rudder in an attempt to maintain directional control. Finding that the rudder application was not enough to keep the takeoff run straight, the pilot also reduced power on the downwind engine. Even with rudder application and differential power, the pilot found he could not maintain adequate control, and elected to abort the takeoff. During the abort, the aircraft decelerated in a "confined area," and because of its "limited steerability" impacted a boat dock prior to coming to a full stop. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2172N](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N2172N), registered now, S/N 46522, built 1944 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Consolidated Aeronautics Inc. PBY-5A - Registry model: [Consolidated-Vultee 28-5ACF](https://openairdocs.org/model/consolidated-vultee-28-5acf) (registry code 2421230) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92](https://openairdocs.org/engine/pratt-whitney-r-1830-92) (registry code 51627, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 4652Z - Airframe hours: 5223 - Engines: P&W R1830-92 1200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Registered owner: Erickson Group, Ltd. - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: AAIP, July 7, 1994, 1 hours before - Departed: AST, ASTORIA, OR ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane, helicopter; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 16,000 total, 50 in this make and model, 15,500 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 25 knots, gusting 30 - Visibility: 30 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 61 °F ## 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 19940708018599A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19940708018599A), Jul 8, 1994: Cvac PBY5, Lincoln City, OR, Substantial damage. Attempted takeoff in narrow lake in severe crosswind. Lost directional control. Aborted. Hit dock. No water rudder. 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.