HOMER, AK, USA
N2019T
THURSTON TSC-1A
DURING A WATER TAKEOFF, THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A LARGE WAVE UNEXPECTEDLY. WITNESSES STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT WAS THROWN TO A HEIGHT OF APPROXIMATELY 12 FEET. THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRSPEED WAS ABOUT 40 TO 45 KNOT'S AT THE TIME OF IMPACT WITH THE WAVE. HE PULLED THE THROTTLE CLOSED AND RELEASED ELEVATOR BACK PRESSURE. THE AIRCRAFT REACTED AND IMPACTED THE WATER IN A NOSE LOW ATTITUDE AND NOSED OVER. THE PILOT ALSO STATED THAT THE WATER WAS GLITTERY AND UNIFORM AT THE TIME OF TAKEOFF. IT WAS LATER REVEALED THAT A LARGE, FAST BOAT HAD CROSSED THE INTENDED TAKEOFF PATH BEHIND N2019T DURING THEIR WATER TAXI. THE PILOT DID NOT OBSERVE ANY BOAT TRAFFIC PRIOR TO TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database
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