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WPR10CA461

2010-09-19 · Renton, Washington, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport W36

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to maintain directional control of the float-equipped airplane during an aborted water takeoff, resulting in a dragged wing.

Factual narrative

The pilot reported that he performed a preflight inspection, and then began to taxi the airplane from the seaplane base to the departure area. He reported encountering a heavy rain shower during taxi, with winds out of the south between 4-6 knots. The air traffic control tower cleared the pilot for a westbound departure, however, he elected to continue with a crosswind takeoff. The pilot applied left wing down aileron control inputs, as he applied engine power. As the airplane accelerated, it began a drift to the left. The pilot reported that he was unable to stop the drift with the application of full right rudder, and that during this time he may have inadvertently relaxed the aileron control input. The pilot elected to abort the takeoff, and as he reduced engine power the right wing struck the water, resulting in substantial damage to the wing spar and aileron. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunction or failures. The pilot reported that he performed a preflight inspection and then began to taxi the airplane from the seaplane base to the departure area. He reported encountering a heavy rain shower during taxi, with wind out of the south between 4-6 knots. The air traffic control tower cleared the pilot for a westbound departure; however, he elected to continue with a crosswind takeoff. The pilot applied left-wing-down aileron control inputs as he applied engine power. As the airplane accelerated, it began a drift to the left. The pilot reported that he was unable to stop the drift with the application of full right rudder, and that during this time he may have inadvertently relaxed the aileron control input. The pilot elected to abort the takeoff, and as he reduced engine power the right wing struck the water; the airplane incurred substantial damage to the wing spar and aileron during the impact sequence. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunction or failures. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Directional control-Not attained/maintained - C
  • C Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2010_WPR10CA461.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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