ASN Wikibase Occurrence # 266333
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| Date: | Tuesday 3 August 2021 |
| Time: | 13:30 LT |
| Type: |  Lake LA-4 |
| Owner/operator: | |
| Registration: | N7615L |
| MSN: | 388 |
| Year of manufacture: | 1968 |
| Engine model: | Lycoming O-360-A1A |
| Fatalities: | Fatalities: 0 / Occupants: 1 |
| Aircraft damage: | Substantial |
| Category: | Accident |
| Location: | Lake Isabella, S of Kern Valley Airport (L05), Kernville, CA -
 United States of America
|
| Phase: | Take off |
| Nature: | Private |
| Departure airport: | Los Angeles-Whiteman Airport, CA (WHP/KWHP) |
| Lake Isabell, CA | |
| Investigating agency: | NTSB |
| Confidence Rating: |  Accident investigation report completed and information captured |
The pilot of the amphibious airplane reported that, after landing on the water he taxied to a boat ramp where he drained water out of the airplane before he took off from the top of the boat ramp. Once airborne, he established a climb attitude, but the airplane was not able to maintain a climb. He further added that there was insufficient time to raise the landing gear before the airplane landed on the water. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing and aft fuselage and empennage.
A witness reported that he assisted the pilot in pulling the airplane out of the water and onto the boat ramp. The water was drained out of the airplane, and then the pilot commenced with the takeoff. The witness further reported that the airplane struck a tree branch before it impacted the water.
Review of recorded video provided by the witness showed that the airplane departed from the top of a declining concrete boat ramp and became airborne just before the waterline at the bottom of the ramp. Throughout the takeoff sequence, the engine could be heard with no noticeable changes in sound. The video showed the airplane briefly remained airborne at a low altitude before it descended into the water.
A Federal Aviation Administration inspector interviewed the pilot. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable Cause: The pilot's failure to establish a positive climb rate after takeoff, which resulted in an impact with an object.
Accident investigation:
 |
|
Sources:
NTSB WPR21LA312
FAA register: https://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=7615L
https://flightaware.com/photos/aircraft/N7615L (photos)
History of this aircraft
Other occurrences involving this aircraft
| 6 May 2012 | N7615L | Private | 0 | San Francisco Bay near Palo Alto Airport - KPAO, Palo Alto, CA | |
non |
Location
Revision history:
| Date/time | Contributor | Updates |
|---|---|---|
| 04-Aug-2021 03:57 | Geno | Added |
| 04-Aug-2021 03:58 | Geno | Updated [Source] |
| 04-Aug-2021 18:20 | Anon. | Updated [Aircraft type, Registration, Cn, Source] |
| 04-Aug-2021 18:20 | harro | Updated [Source, Damage] |
| 05-Aug-2021 02:48 | RobertMB | Updated [Operator, Location, Nature, Source, Narrative] |
| 06-Aug-2021 06:43 | Anon. | Updated [Source, Narrative] |
| 24-Jun-2022 14:09 | ASN Update Bot | Updated [Time, Operator, Other fatalities, Departure airport, Destination airport, Source, Damage, Narrative, Category, Accident report] |
Corrections or additions? ... Edit this accident description
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