Ralph C Kimball SEA REY N32RK

Summary

On 9 October 2020 at about 18:54 local time, a Ralph C Kimball SEA REY registered N32RK was involved in an accident near Parker Dam, California, 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

9 October 2020 at 18:54

Classification

Accident

Location

Parker Dam, California, United States

Coordinates

34.2788, -114.1371

Aircraft

Ralph C Kimball SEA REY

Registration

N32RK

Category

Airplane

Year built

2014

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Lake Havasu City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

WPR21LA013

Nobody was injured.

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.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

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.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.