Bayou Fourchon Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Leeville, Louisiana 70358
Thursday, May 24, 2007 15:30 CDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The single-engine floatplane collided with a power boat during a water takeoff. The floatplane was departing a privately owned water strip located on a waterway, when an 18 foot powerboat entered the waterway from an intersecting canal and crossed ahead of the floatplane's take-off path. The powerboat then executed a U-turn in front of the aircraft. The 12,911 hour airline transport pilot attempted to avoid the powerboat by attempting to take-off prematurely in order to avoid impacting the powerboat. One of the passenger witnesses stated that they were up to very close take-off speed when he saw the boat approaching at a high rate of speed from the canal. Another passenger stated that he heard a statement from the front passenger "do you have the boat?" and the pilot replied "He's turning into us!" The amphibian float impacted the boat causing the floatplane to nose-over as it impacted the water. A witness, who was standing on the shore, observed the floatplane preparing for takeoff and observed the powerboat execute a 180-degree turn in front of the floatplane. The floatplane sustained structural damage and came to rest partly submerged. The sole occupant of the boat was fatally injured.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The failure of the operator of the powerboat to maintain separation from the departing floatplane.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/24/2007
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1530
Event Time Zone Central Daylight Time
Event City Leeville
Event State LOUISIANA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 70358
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? Yes
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport BAYOU FOURCHON
Event Location Nearest Airport ID 1LA4
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport On Airport
Distance from airport in statute miles 0.5
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 0
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Unknown
Time of the weather observation
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) --
Weather Observation Facility ID --
Elevation of weather observation facility --
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) --
Time Zone of the weather observation --
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 3900
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 3900
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling Broken
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 27
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 17
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 110
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 13
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 20
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.16
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Fatal
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 1
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal 1
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 21854
NTSB Notification Source FAA FSDO
NTSB Notification Date May 24 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Jul 25 2007 12:22PM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\lema
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office FAA FSDO Baton Rouge, LA

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N45WT
NTSB Number DFW07LA120
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed VFR
Flight plan Was Activated? Yes
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Cessna
Aircraft Model U206G
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number U20603846
Certified Max Gross Weight 3800
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? No
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 4
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Retractable
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection 100 Hour
Date of Last Inspection May 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 8606.2
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Chevron USA
Aircraft Owner Street Address 96 Runway Rd
Aircraft Owner City Picayune
Aircraft Owner State MS
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 39466
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) Executive/Corporate
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event Yes
Departure Airport Code 1LA4
Departure City Leeville
Departure State LA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time --
Departure Time Zone CDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code 8LA1
Destination City VENICE
Destination State LA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight Takeoff - roll/run
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jul 2 2007 1:38PM
User who most recently changed record CASH
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location --
Runway Length 5000
Runway Width 75
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --