Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Jacksonville, Florida 32225
Tuesady, December 24, 1996 13:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot took off in a floatplane from an intercoastal waterway with a wind from the right at 13 knots. He elected to fly over land, reduced engine power when the flight was about 100 feet agl, and climbed to about 150 feet agl. While maneuvering toward water about 10 mph above stall speed, the airplane began descending. The pilot applied full power, but the descent continued, and the airplane collided with trees. The pilot stated that there was no engine failure or malfunction. He did not hold a seaplane class rating.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

failure of the pilot to maintain adequate airspeed, while maneuvering after takeoff, which resulted in a stall/mush and collision with trees.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 12/24/1996
Event Day of the Week Tuesday
Time of Event 1300
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City JACKSONVILLE
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32225
Event Date Year 1996
Event Date Month 12
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude
Event Location Longitude
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1247 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID CRG
Elevation of weather observation facility 42
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 5000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 7
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 14
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 240
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 1
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 1708
NTSB Notification Source --
NTSB Notification Date Dec 26 1996 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 800
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record Dec 8 2000 10:30AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N6156K
NTSB Number MIA97LA048
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Kelly
Aircraft Model RANS S-12
Aircraft Series Identifier RANS S-12
Aircraft Serial Number 0792253
Certified Max Gross Weight 1000
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 2 1996 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 5
Airframe Hours 40
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name JOHN A. KELLY
Aircraft Owner Street Address 13723 SW 53 ST.
Aircraft Owner City OCALA
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 34481
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name JERRY LEE NELSON
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address 13388 DIJON DR. EAST
Operator City JACKSONVILLE
Operator State FL
Operator Country
Operator Zip code 32225
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code
Departure City
Departure State
Departure Country
Departure Time 1258
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight Maneuvering
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jan 2 2001 10:34AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --