# NTSB WPR21LA013: Ralph C Kimball Sea Rey, N32RK, Parker Dam, CA, October 9, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 9, 2020, 11:54 local (18:54 UTC) - Place: Parker Dam, CA - Coordinates: 34.278776, -114.13713 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.2788&lon=-114.1371&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 102135 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR21LA013 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/102135/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102135 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR21LA013 ## Probable cause The inadvertent encounter with water wake during the takeoff sequence that degraded the airplane’s airspeed and resulted in the pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from obstacles during the initial climb. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: climb rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Ralph C. Kimball SEA REY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md?model=05632ZX), [All aircraft, 265 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062035/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Ralph C. Kimball SEA REY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05632ZX), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: monitoring environment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Ralph C. Kimball SEA REY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md?model=05632ZX), [All aircraft, 809 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021545/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Ralph C. Kimball SEA REY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=05632ZX), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: choppy surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023030): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Ralph C. Kimball SEA REY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023030/cases.md?model=05632ZX), [All aircraft, 20 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Ralph C. Kimball SEA REY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=05632ZX), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the amphibious airplane reported that, while taking off from a lake, unforeseen wakes that resulted in a decay the airplane’s airspeed. The pilot said that he was already committed to takeoff and initiated a climb at the airplane’s best rate of climb. While maneuvering to avoid obstructions, the left wing impacted a vehicle, and the airplane came to rest between two water tanks. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N32RK](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N32RK), registered now, S/N 1DK351C, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Ralph C Kimball Sea Rey - Registry model: [Ralph C. Kimball SEA REY](https://openairdocs.org/model/ralph-c-kimball-sea-rey) (registry code 05632ZX) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912 IS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912-is-series) (registry code 55593, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1DK351C - Year built: 2014 - Engines: Rotax 912IS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Destination: KHII, Lake Havasu City, AZ - Equipment: ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; injuries: none; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review August 23, 2020; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 15,000 total, 130 in this make and model, 5,000 as pilot in command, 180 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 32 °F - Altimeter: 28.00 inHg - Observed at: HII, 7 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 20201009013219A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20201009013219A), Oct 9, 2020: Ralph C. Kimball SEA REY, Lake Havasu, CA, Destroyed. On October 9, 2020 a pilot and passenger took off in an experimental Sea Rey from Parker Dam in Lake Havasu. Shortly after take off the aircraft hit a pick up… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 26, 2021, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=102135. 3.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 9 pages, 3.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11651696&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%206120%20Pilot_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1 photo, 259 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=11652047&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%201-Rel.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.