# NTSB WPR14CA306: Bosco Don Searey, N83007, Mount Vernon, WA, July 21, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 21, 2014, 11:00 local (18:00 UTC) - Place: Mount Vernon, WA - Coordinates: 48.419422, -122.420722 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.4194&lon=-122.4207&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Taxi](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/250) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Taxi: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 9, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 89708 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14CA306 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/89708/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89708 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14CA306 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain lateral control while taxiing. Contributing to the accident was the incorrect decision to takeoff once the sponson had been damaged. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Bosco Don SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=056169I), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) - [Info processing/decision: decision making/judgment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bosco Don SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md?model=056169I), [All aircraft, 3,098 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041520/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Student/instructed pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Bosco Don SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056169I), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Taxi: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093) (defining event); cases with it: [Bosco Don SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=056169I), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis While practicing step taxiing on the river the pilot under instruction attempted to transition from step taxi to plow taxi. During the transition the right wing dropped and contacted the water, which damaged the right sponson. The flight instructor added power and proceeded to takeoff. The airplane climbed to 10 feet above the water when it then started a slow uncontrollable turn to the right. The airplane lost altitude and impacted the water. Both pilots egressed the airplane unhurt. The airplane's hull/fuselage was substantially damaged and it took on water. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative While practicing step taxiing on the river the pilot under instruction attempted to transition from step taxi to plow taxi. During the transition the right wing dropped and contacted the water, which damaged the right sponson. The flight instructor added power and proceeded to takeoff. The airplane climbed to 10 feet above the water when it then started a slow uncontrollable turn to the right. The airplane lost altitude and impacted the water. Both pilots egressed the airplane unhurt. The airplane's hull/fuselage was substantially damaged and it took on water.The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunction or failure with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N83007](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N83007-2021-01-30), registration cancelled 2021-01-30, S/N 1DK319C, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: BOSCO DON SEAREY - Registry model: [Bosco Don SEAREY](https://openairdocs.org/model/bosco-don-searey) (registry code 056169I) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 914 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-914-series) (registry code 55575, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1DK319C - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 169 - Engines: Rotax 914UL 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Latourette - Registered owner: Latourette - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, October 2, 2013 - Departed: KBVS, Burlington, WA - Destination: KBVS, Burlington, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; seat: left; flight hours: 800 total, 28 in this make and model - Flight instructor; age 69; injuries: none; flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review August 14, 2013; seat: right; flight hours: 7,580 total, 25 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.04 inHg - Observed at: KVBS, 2 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 20140721011999A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140721011999A), Jul 21, 2014: Bosco Don SEAREY, Mount Vernon, WA, Substantial damage. During high speed taxi on the skagit river with the intent to takeoff, while executing a step turn, the airplane right wing dipped and damaged the right… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 6, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=89708. 5.5 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 583 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417395&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1 –Damaged Right Sponson (item 2, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417396&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20%E2%80%93Damaged%20Right%20Sponson-Master.PDF - Photo 2 – View of Hull Damage (item 3, .PDF, 2.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40417397&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%20%E2%80%93%20View%20of%20Hull%20Damage-Master.PDF 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.