Boeing N2S-3 N1178J

Summary

On 4 July 2007 at about 16:00 local time, a Boeing N2S-3 registered N1178J was involved in an accident near Trenton, Missouri, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

4 July 2007 at 16:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Trenton, Missouri, United States

Nearest airport

Trenton Muni (TRX)

Coordinates

40.0839, -93.5953

Aircraft

Boeing N2S-3

Registration

N1178J

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Trenton → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CHI07CA194

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain sufficient altitude/clearance above the water while maneuvering. A factor in the accident was the low altitude maneuver attempted by the pilot.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The airplane was substantially damaged when it impacted water while maneuvering. The pilot stated that he was "positioning [the airplane] on downwind for a low approach to runway 18" while following another airplane that was conducting a low approach. The pilot reported that while he was attempting to "level off" the "elevator froze," preventing him from leveling off. One witness stated that she saw the airplane attempt to complete a loop. Another witness, who was a certified flight instructor, stated that he saw the airplane in a near vertical descent prior to flying below tree top level. The airplane subsequently impacted water east of the airport. An inspection after the accident revealed no mechanical anomalies which would have prevented normal operation of the airplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.