# NTSB SEA98LA115: Tracy Avid Mark IV, N4353D, Coeur D'Alene, ID, July 2, 1998 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: July 2, 1998, 12:45 local (19:45 UTC) - Place: Coeur D'Alene, ID - Location: 47.7029° N, 116.7958° W: Placed by OpenAirDocs: center of Coeur d'Alene, ID, within about 6 miles (OpenAirDocs) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.7029&lon=-116.7958&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Initial climb](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/350) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 11, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 42814 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=SEA98LA115 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/42814/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/SEA98LA115 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed. ## 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 - airspeed - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - stall - In flight collision with terrain/water, descent - uncontrolled - terrain condition - water ## Analysis The pilot reported that after the airplane lifted off from the water, he initiated a left turn at approximately 300 to 500 feet above water level. The pilot stated that he barely applied pressure to the stick for the left turn when the next thing he remembered was the aircraft going into the water at a 45 degree angle. The pilot stated that he felt that he had adequate airspeed and altitude when he entered the turn, but could not say if it was a control problem or a stall. Inspection of the flight controls, after the accident, did not reveal evidence of a control malfunction. ## Factual narrative On July 2, 1998, at 1245 Pacific daylight time, an amphibian Avid Mark IV, N4353D, registered to the pilot and operated as a 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight, collided with the water shortly after takeoff from Coeur d'Alene Lake, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The commercial pilot, the sole occupant, was not injured. In a written statement, the pilot reported that he was about two miles from shore when he initiated the takeoff from the north end of the lake. The pilot stated that after lifting off, he initiated a left turn at approximately 300 to 500 feet above water level. The pilot stated, "I just barely applied pressure to the stick for a left turn... The next thing I know I am going into the water at a 45 degree angle." The pilot reported that he felt that he had adequate airspeed and altitude when he entered the turn, but couldn't say if it was a control problem or a stall. Witness statements were taken by a Deputy from the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department. The witnesses reported that "It (plane) was about 25-30 feet off the water when it seemed to stall and head nose first into the water, like a bird diving for fish." Another witness reported that he observed the small airplane banking into a turn at a low altitude and instead of leveling out, "he took a nose dive into the lake." Other witnesses reported, "saw plane climbing at approximately 300 feet and turn to the left and drop into the lake." "The plane took a left bank turning east. The plane stalled at about 200 feet." A Federal Aviation Administration Inspector from the Spokane, Washington, Flight Standards District Office inspected the flight controls after the aircraft was recovered from the lake. The inspector reported that there was no evidence found to indicate a control malfunction. The pilot reported to this inspector that the aircraft was functioning normally at the time of the accident. The weather reporting facility at the Coeur d'Alene Airport located 10 nautical miles north of the lake, reported that the wind conditions at 1235, were from 200 degrees at 14 knots, with gusts to 18 knots. The pilot indicated that the winds were from the northwest at 10 knots, gusting to 12 knots. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N4353D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N4353D), registered now, S/N 1070D (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Tracy AVID MARK IV (AVID MARK) - Registry model: [Tracy Donald E AVID MARK IV](https://openairdocs.org/model/tracy-donald-e-avid-mark-iv) (registry code 95708CS) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Unknown, amateur-built - Serial number: 1070D - Airframe hours: 140 - Engines: Rotax 582 CC 65 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Paul J. Dickerson - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, December 12, 1997, 18 hours before ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 51; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: left; flight hours: 2,500 total, 20 in this make and model, 2,300 as pilot in command, 25 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 200° at 14 knots, gusting 18 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: COE, 10 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 19980702026859A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19980702026859A), Jul 2, 1998: Amtr AVIDMARKIV, Couer Dalene, ID, Substantial damage. (.4)The pilot reported that after the airplane lifted off from the water, he initiated a left turn at approximately 300 to 500 feet above water level. The… 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.