GAA19CA528

Factual narrative

The pilot of the float-equipped airplane reported that, while taking off from a lake, the airplane accelerated, became airborne, and about 40 ft above the water, he retracted the flaps. The airplane pitched down and the left wing dropped. He attempted to correct to no avail and the airplane impacted the water. The pilot reported that he believed P factor caused the left roll because the airplane was aerodynamically stalling and would not correct, despite his attempts. The pilot reported that he had accrued 5 hours in the airplane make and model, 2 hours of which occurred in the preceding 30 days. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot reported that, it was a very windy, gusty day, and the wind varied in direction. An airport's automated weather observation station, located 15 miles west, reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 300° at 14 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The airplane was departing to the south. The pilot of the float-equipped airplane reported that, while taking off from a lake, the airplane accelerated, became airborne and that, about 40 ft above the water, he retracted the flaps. The airplane pitched down, and the left wing dropped. He attempted to correct to no avail, and the airplane impacted the water. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage, empennage, and both wings. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He added that he believed P factor caused the left roll because the airplane aerodynamically stalled and would not correct despite his attempts to do so. He also stated that he had accrued 5 hours in the airplane make and model, 2 hours of which occurred in the preceding 30 days. The pilot reported that it was a very windy, gusty day and that the wind was variable. An automated weather observation station located 15 miles west of the accident site reported that, about the time of the accident, the wind was from 300° at 14 knots, gusting to 20 knots. The airplane was departing to the south. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

• C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C
• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Angle of attack-Not attained/maintained - C
• C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Gusts-Effect on operation - C
• C Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-Wind-Variable wind-Effect on operation - C
• — Personnel issues-Experience/knowledge-Experience/qualifications-Total experience-Pilot