# NTSB SEA97LA141: Wood Murphy Rebel, N224MR, Marion, MT, June 16, 1997

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: June 15, 1997, 18:00 local (Jun 16, 1997, 00:00 UTC)
- Place: Marion, MT
- Coordinates: 48.109504, -114.789764 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1095&lon=-114.7898&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 24, 1998
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 42632
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA97LA141
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42632/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA97LA141

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the terrain/water. Factors include gusty winds and downdrafts.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- In flight collision with terrain/water, takeoff
  - clearance - not maintained, pilot in command (cause)
  - weather condition - gusts (contributing factor)
  - weather condition - downdraft (contributing factor)

## Analysis

During a water takeoff in gusty wind conditions, the pilot started a left turn soon after liftoff. The aircraft then encountered a downdraft and a wind gust from the right. This resulted in the aircraft entering a descent while still in a left turn. Before the pilot could recover from the descent, the left float of the aircraft impacted the surface of the lake, and the aircraft flipped onto its back.

## Factual narrative

On June 15, 1997, approximately 1800 mountain daylight time, an experimental Wood Murphy Rebel, N224MR, impacted the water during a takeoff from Middle Thompson Lake near Marion, Montana. The private pilot was not injured, but his passenger received minor injuries, and the aircraft, which was owned and operated by the pilot, sustained substantial damage. The local 14 CFR Part 91 personal pleasure flight was being operated in visual meteorological conditions at the time of the accident. No flight plan had been filed, and the ELT, which was activated by the impact, was turned off at the scene.

In a telephone conversation with an FAA inspector, the pilot said that he was taking off into a wind of about ten knots that was gusting to 15 knots. He said that he started a left turn soon after liftoff, and that while turning left, the aircraft entered a downdraft and encountered a gust of wind from the right. This resulted in the aircraft descending while still in a left turn. The pilot was unable to arrest the descent prior to the left float impacting the water, and when the float hit the water, the aircraft flipped over on its back.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N224MR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N224MR-1999-10-29), registration cancelled 1999-10-29, S/N 224R (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WOOD MURPHY REBEL (MURPHY REB)
- Registry model: [Wood George MURPHY REBEL](https://openairdocs.org/model/wood-george-murphy-rebel) (registry code 05623MD) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 224R
- Airframe hours: 240
- Engines: Lycoming O-320 150 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Wood, George D.
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Annual, April 1, 1997, 30 hours before

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 53; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: left; flight hours: 1,200 total, 200 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 150° at 10 knots, gusting 15
- Visibility: 20 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 75 °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 19970616014089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19970616014089A), Jun 16, 1997: Amtr REBEL, Kalispell, MT, Substantial damage. Aircraft was taking off into wind, banked left due to a strong gust, fell back into lake.

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.

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