# NTSB WPR25LA198: Republic RC-3, N6759K, Coolin, ID, June 28, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: June 28, 2025, 13:30 UTC - Place: Coolin, ID · Priest Lake - water takeoff - Coordinates: 48.725018, -116.84229 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.7250&lon=-116.8423&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: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 2, 2025 - 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): 200468 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR25LA198 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200468/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200468 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR25LA198 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane and exceedance of the critical angle of attack during takeoff in windy conditions which resulted in a subsequent hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Wind: windshear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Republic RC-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md?model=3080202), [All aircraft, 90 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034020/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: lateral/bank control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Attain/maintain not possible (probable cause); cases with it: [Republic RC-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md?model=3080202), [All aircraft, 390 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062023/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Republic RC-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=3080202), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: angle of attack](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Republic RC-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md?model=3080202), [All aircraft, 990 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062042/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Takeoff: Other weather encounter](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400); cases with it: [Republic RC-3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md?model=3080202), [All aircraft, 1,127 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/400/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Loss of control in flight](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240) (defining event); cases with it: [Republic RC-3, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md?model=3080202), [All aircraft, 5,002 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/240/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241); cases with it: [Republic RC-3, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=3080202), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Takeoff: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Republic RC-3, 7 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=3080202), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the amphibious airplane reported that during takeoff from a lake in windy conditions, the airplane encountered windshear, stalled, and landed hard on the water surface, which resulted in the right float to separate. A video of the accident sequence showed the airplane veer right on the water during takeoff from the lake and became airborne. Once airborne, the airplane rolled right and then left before it landed hard on the water. A short time later, the airplane became submerged under the water surface. The right wing was substantially damaged. There were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N6759K](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N6759K), registered now, S/N 1047, built 1947 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: REPUBLIC RC-3 - Registry model: [Republic RC-3](https://openairdocs.org/model/republic-rc-3) (registry code 3080202) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Franklin 6A8 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/franklin-6a8-series) (registry code 27030, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1047 - Year built: 1947 - Airframe hours: 2310 - Engines: Lycoming IGO-480-G1A6 290 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 22, 2024, 27 hours before - Departed: D28, Cavanaugh Bay, ID - Airport: D28, Tanglefoot - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review May 24, 2025; seat: left; flight hours: 81 total, 310 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 9 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 5,000 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 45 °F - Altimeter: 30.09 inHg - Observed at: KSZT, 28 nm away - METAR: METAR KSZT 282015Z AUTO 19009KT 10SM BKN050 BKN065 BKN100 22/07 A3009 RMK AO2 ## 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 20250628008749A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250628008749A), Jun 28, 2025: Republic RC-3, Cavanaugh Bay, ID, Substantial damage. Reviewed video of accident. Water takeoff. During takeoff roll, aircraft was porpoising while heading close to the beach. It appeared right wing pontoon hit… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 2, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200468. 6.6 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.6 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19251909&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 244 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19251801&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Video file (item 3, MOV, 4.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19267958&FileExtension=mov&FileName=Video-Rel.mov - Photo array (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 1 photo, 398 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19291609&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=photo%20array-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.