# NTSB WPR23LA019: Progressive Aerodyne SeaRey, N129KB, Lake Isabel, WA, October 15, 2022 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: October 15, 2022, 15:00 local (22:00 UTC) - Place: Lake Isabel, WA · Lake - Coordinates: 47.87022, -121.59235 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.8702&lon=-121.5923&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Takeoff](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/300) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA SEA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 106160 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR23LA019 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/106160/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106160 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR23LA019 ## Probable cause The pilot’s loss of airplane control after an encounter with windshear during takeoff which, resulted in a hard water landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Balcomb Kenneth C III SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05621Z1), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Wind: windshear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Balcomb Kenneth C III SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md?model=05621Z1), [All aircraft, 90 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Balcomb Kenneth C III SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=05621Z1), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Windshear or thunderstorm](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390); cases with it: [Balcomb Kenneth C III SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md?model=05621Z1), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/390/sequence.md) - [Uncontrolled descent: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Balcomb Kenneth C III SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05621Z1), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the amphibious airplane reported that, during the tailwind departure from the mountain lake, the airplane was about 40 ft above water level, at an airspeed of 57 miles per hour (mph), when the airplane encountered windshear. The airspeed decreased suddenly by 10-15 mph and the airplane entered a 600 foot per minute descent rate that the airplane was unable to out climb with takeoff power. The airplane subsequently collided hard with the water and bounced before coming to rest. The wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N129KB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N129KB-2024-11-30), registration cancelled 2024-11-30, S/N 1DK287C, built 2006 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PROGRESSIVE AERODYNE INC SeaRey - Registry model: [Balcomb Kenneth C III SEAREY](https://openairdocs.org/model/balcomb-kenneth-c-iii-searey) (registry code 05621Z1) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912S series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912s-series) (registry code 55570, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1DK287C - Year built: 2006 - Airframe hours: 151 - Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special); None - Last inspection: Condition, October 12, 2022, 4 hours before - Departed: 74S, Anacortes, WA - Destination: Lake, Gold Bar, WA - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 29; injuries: none; military, commercial, private, sport pilot; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, unknown; last flight review August 12, 2022; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,277 total, 34 in this make and model, 523 as pilot in command, 46 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 6 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 3,500 ft overcast - Temperature: 63 °F, dew point 48 °F - Altimeter: 30.02 inHg - Observed at: KPAE, 28 nm away - METAR: METAR KPAE 151853Z 36006KT 2SM FU OVC035 17/09 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP163 T01670094= ## 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 20221015016149A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20221015016149A), Oct 15, 2022: Balcomb Kenneth C III SEAREY, Lake Isabel, WA, Substantial damage. Wind shear/downdraft on takeoff from Lake Isabel, WA, October 17, 2022. This caused the plane to crash back into the lake. The pilot noted a 600 fpm descent… ## Docket (1 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on December 30, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=106160. 5.5 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 13 pages, 5.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=14895817&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_flat_Redacted-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.