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| Date: | Saturday 24 May 2014 |
| Time: | 16:50 |
| Type: |  Progressive Aerodyne SeaRey LSX |
| Owner/operator: | Berger Kenneth A |
| Registration: | N249PW |
| MSN: | 1LK485C |
| Year of manufacture: | 2013 |
| Engine model: | Rotax 914 |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 1 / Occupants: 1 |
| Other fatalities: | 0 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Banks Lake, near Grand Coulee, WA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Electric City, WA |
| Monroe, WA | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
According to witnesses, the private pilot of the experimental, amateur-built, high-wing, amphibious airplane was attempting to take off from the lake, which was choppy due to numerous boat wakes. Witnesses reported that the airplane started a high-speed run but that the engine then throttled back, and the airplane turned toward the beach. The airplane then abruptly turned 180 degrees and started another high-speed run. While on the step for the final takeoff attempt, the airplane encountered a boat wake, bounced 4 to 5 ft, and then abruptly nosed down into the lake. The airplane came to an abrupt stop with a 20- to 30-ft-high splash. When witnesses arrived in their boats, the airplane’s high wings were level with the water’s surface, and the aft-facing, pylon-mounted engine was still running. Swimmers entered the water and recovered the pilot from the submerged cabin. Shortly thereafter, the airplane sank. The submerged airplane could not be located during a subsequent search by local law enforcement, and the wreckage was not recovered.
Probable Cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain pitch control during takeoff after encountering a boat wake, which resulted in the airplane bouncing, impacting the water’s surface, and subsequently becoming submerged.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB
FAA register: http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=249PW
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 25-May-2014 04:05 | Geno | Added |
| 25-May-2014 20:14 | Geno | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Operator, Source, Narrative, ] |
| 26-May-2014 03:45 | Geno | Updated [Source, ] |
| 30-May-2014 05:08 | Geno | Updated [Time, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative, ] |
| 21-Dec-2016 19:28 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Damage, Category, Investigating agency, ] |
| 29-Nov-2017 14:22 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Operator, Other fatalities, Nature, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Narrative, ] |
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