Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Lake Berryessa, California 94558
Thursday, October 25, 2007 13:00 PDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot conducted a normal approach in the amphibian for landing on Lake Berryessa. He configured the airplane with the landing gear up and the flaps set down 20 degrees for the water landing. While decelerating the airplane after landing, he heard a loud noise. The airplane nosed over and came to rest floating on it's back. The pilot opined the airplane impacted a submerged object, which caused the airplane to nose over. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine. The airplane sustained damage to the hull and right wing.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The airplane's encounter with a submerged object during landing in water, which resulted in the airplane nosing over.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 10/25/2007
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 1300
Event Time Zone Pacific Daylight Time
Event City Lake Berryessa
Event State CALIFORNIA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 94558
Event Date Year 2007
Event Date Month 10
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 383400N
Event Location Longitude 1221100W
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 --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1953 Pacific Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 120
Weather Observation Facility ID VCB
Elevation of weather observation facility 117
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation PDT
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) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 8
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) --
Variable Wind Indicator --
Wind Speed (knots) --
Wind Velocity Indicator Calm
Wind Gust Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.91
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 2
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 2
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 22700
NTSB Notification Source FAA
NTSB Notification Date Oct 25 2007 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information DMS
Date of most recent change to record Dec 20 2007 6:59AM
User who most recently changed record NTSB\johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office WP-SAC-FSDO

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N195LS
NTSB Number LAX08CA019
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
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 Ploof Progressive Aerodyne's
Aircraft Model Searey
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1MK195
Certified Max Gross Weight 1450
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 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Sep 1 2007 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 109
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name Donald Ploof
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City West Sacramento
Aircraft Owner State CA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 95691
Operator is an individual? Yes
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) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 2Q3
Departure City Davis/Woodland
Departure State CA
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1315
Departure Time Zone PDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code NONE
Destination City Lake Berryessa
Destination State CA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 27 2007 6:31PM
User who most recently changed record COOS
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location NA
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --