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WPR21LA295

2021-07-20 · Renton, Washington, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport W36

Current FAA registration · N46287

Make / Model
CESSNA 172I
Year of manufacture
1968 · 53 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING 0-320 SERIES (180 hp)
Seats / Engines
4 seats · 1 engine
Last airworthiness date
19680719
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A5A499

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The boat operator’s failure to remain a safe distance from the floatplane during the takeoff run, which resulted in a collision.

Factual narrative

The flight instructor reported that during the water takeoff to the north, in the floatplane, he noticed a jet boat that was operating about 1,000 ft east of the floatplane. The boat was traveling generally in the same direction and diverging from the area which they had planned to takeoff. During the takeoff run, the boat abruptly altered its course and began to converge upon the floatplane’s takeoff path. The flight instructor told the pilot receiving instruction to turn left, as he retarded the throttle to the idle position in an attempt to avoid the boat. The boat subsequently collided with the right side of the floatplane substantially damaging the right-side empennage and stabilizer. Just before the boat collided with the floatplane, the pilot observed that the boat operator was turned completely towards the rear of the boat. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • — Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Other
  • — Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Task monitoring/vigilance-Other

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2021_WPR21LA295.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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