Aviat A-1B N715SB

Summary

On 25 June 2013 at about 18:00 local time, a Aviat A-1B registered N715SB was involved in an accident near Ely, Minnesota, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

25 June 2013 at 18:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Ely, Minnesota, United States

Nearest airport

Shagawa Lake

Coordinates

47.9139, -91.8778

Aircraft

Aviat A-1B

Registration

N715SB

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Ely → Ely

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN13LA374

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the amphibious airplane during the water landing.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot reported that the accident occurred when he was making water landings in the amphibious airplane. He stated that he noted no anomalies during his first landing. He said the lake surface had “light ripples,” and the wind speed was less than 5 knots. The pilot stated that his second landing approach and touchdown were also initially uneventful; however, shortly after the airplane touched down, it began to roll and yaw toward the left, and the left wing contacted the water. The airplane came to rest partially submerged, nose-low, in the lake. An examination of the recovered wreckage revealed substantial damage to several float struts and spreader bars; however, all examined component damage was consistent with overstress, with no preexisting material defects observed. Because the damage to the amphibious float components occurred during the accident, they likely did not contribute to the initial loss of control. Therefore, given the pilot's report of light wind, the pilot should have been able to maintain airplane control throughout the water landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.