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CHI06CA197

2006-07-22 · Lutsen, Minnesota, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The unsuitable terrain the pilot encountered during takeoff in rough water. A factor was the wave in the rough water.

Factual narrative

The amphibian airplane sustained substantial damage during takeoff when its float encountered a wave. The pilot stated, "As airspeed increased, the aircraft encountered slightly larger waves and as airspeed approached rotation speed, began hitting the crests of the waves. Just before rotation, a snap was heard and takeoff was immediately aborted. As the aircraft quickly decelerated, the front pilot side float strut pierced through the fuselage by pilot rudder pedals and the whole float assembly collapsed." The amphibian airplane sustained substantial damage during takeoff when its float encountered a wave. The pilot stated, "As airspeed increased, the aircraft encountered slightly larger waves and as airspeed approached rotation speed, began hitting the crests of the waves. Just before rotation, a snap was heard and takeoff was immediately aborted. As the aircraft quickly decelerated, the front pilot side float strut pierced through the fuselage by pilot rudder pedals and the whole float assembly collapsed." Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database (Pre-2008 Archive) Retrieved: 2026-02-12

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2006_CHI06CA197.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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