Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Mineral, Virginia 23117
Wednesday, March 12, 2003 10:00 EST

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, who was receiving floatplane instruction, the flight proceeded to the lake to conduct on-water maneuvers. After landing on the lake several times, the flight instructor requested that the pilot perform a few step taxis. During one of the taxis, as the floatplane was being turned to the right, the pilot stated, "I don't think we are going to make it." The instructor replied, "Put in more rudder." The pilot informed the instructor that he already had applied full right rudder, and added full power in an attempt to "pull us through the turn." As the floatplane neared the shoreline, the instructor decreased the power, and the left wing struck a tree. The airplane turned abruptly to the left, and came to rest along the shoreline.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The flight instructor's delayed remedial action.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 3/12/2003
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1000
Event Time Zone Eastern Standard Time
Event City Mineral
Event State VIRGINIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 23117
Event Date Year 2003
Event Date Month 3
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 375800N
Event Location Longitude 0774549W
Event Location Airport --
Event Location Nearest Airport ID NONE
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 1000 Eastern Standard Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 270
Weather Observation Facility ID LKU
Elevation of weather observation facility 493
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 5
Time Zone of the weather observation EST
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 13
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 6
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 8
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.09
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 15373
NTSB Notification Source Richmond FSDO
NTSB Notification Date Mar 13 2003 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 1030
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Apr 28 2004 3:34PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\MONR
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FSDO-21 Richmond, VA

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N276T
NTSB Number NYC03LA068
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Piper
Aircraft Model PA-18
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 18-2390
Certified Max Gross Weight 1750
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
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 Unknown
Date of Last Inspection --
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours --
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Don J. Rhynalds
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City Fauquier
Aircraft Owner State VA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 22712
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name --
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City --
Operator State --
Operator Country --
Operator Zip code --
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? --
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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) Instructional
Second Pilot on Board Yes
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code W66
Departure City Warrenton
Departure State VA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 900
Departure Time Zone EST
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code NONE
Destination City Lake Anna
Destination State VA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Taxi
Report sent to ICAO? No
Evacuation occurred No
Date of most recent change to record Mar 2 2004 2:19PM
User who most recently changed record PEAR
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --