Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Onset, Massachusetts 02532
Monday, August 2, 2010 16:51 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, after landing the float-equipped airplane in a canal where aircraft were prohibited from landing, he was directed by law enforcement personnel to depart in a northwest direction. The pilot subsequently performed a normal takeoff, and after becoming airborne he banked the airplane to the right and continued to climb in a nose-high attitude. The nose then dropped and the airplane impacted the water. After noticing a puncture hole in the right float, the pilot ascertained that the airplane must have struck an obstacle in the water during the takeoff. A postaccident examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector did not reveal damage consistent with an obstacle impact. Detailed maps of the canal did not reveal any exposed rocks along the takeoff path and the nearest obstacle would have been 4 feet below the water line. The FAA inspector also viewed a video of the accident flight, which showed the airplane taking off in a level attitude, then commencing a shallow bank right-hand turn. Initially the airplane climbed, but as the angle of bank increased, the nose pointed down to below the horizon and then descended until impact. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's loss of airplane control during the initial climb.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 8/2/2010
Event Day of the Week Monday
Time of Event 1651
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Onset
Event State MASSACHUSETTS
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 02532
Event Date Year 2010
Event Date Month 8
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 414412N
Event Location Longitude 0703806W
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 1655 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 90
Weather Observation Facility ID FMH
Elevation of weather observation facility 131
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 10
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
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) 24
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 13
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 210
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 12
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30.14
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 3
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 27932
NTSB Notification Source FAA New England ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 14 2010 10:09PM
User who most recently changed record coxp
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N3188L
NTSB Number ERA10CA393
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 MAULE
Aircraft Model M-7-260
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 26021C
Certified Max Gross Weight 2750
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 5
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Annual
Date of Last Inspection Mar 18 2010 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 300
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name PAGE LOUIS R
Aircraft Owner Street Address 19 MILLER HILL RD
Aircraft Owner City DOVER
Aircraft Owner State MA
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 02030-2333
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name PAGE LOUIS R
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City DOVER
Operator State MA
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 02030-2333
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
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 WST
Departure City Westerly
Departure State RI
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1500
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code --
Destination City Onset
Destination State MA
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 9 2010 8:51AM
User who most recently changed record andj
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --