N/A Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Punta Gorda, Florida 33982
Sunday, April 27, 2014 15:00 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot of the float-equipped airplane stated the purpose of the flight was to "scout for fish." While flying 30 feet above the water the airplane encountered a "huge gust of wind" and then bounced off the water surface multiple times. The pilot applied full power to reestablish flight but the right pontoon contacted the water and the airplane "ground looped." Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to the vertical stabilizer. The pilot reported there were no mechanical malfunctions or anomalies that could have precluded normal operation.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from the water while operating at a low altitude.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 4/27/2014
Event Day of the Week Sunday
Time of Event 1500
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Punta Gorda
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 33982
Event Date Year 2014
Event Date Month 4
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 264320N
Event Location Longitude 0820426W
Event Location Airport N/A
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 1853 Coordinated Universal Time? Same as GMT
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 200
Weather Observation Facility ID PGD
Elevation of weather observation facility 26
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 14
Time Zone of the weather observation UTC
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) 32
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 21
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 250
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 9
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.97
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report METAR KPGD 271853Z 25009KT 10SM CLR 32/21 A2997 RM
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) 32841
NTSB Notification Source FAA Tampa FSDO
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 18 2014 1:14PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N543MG
NTSB Number ERA14CA229
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 GINGRAS MICHEL
Aircraft Model AVENTURA II
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number AA2A0148
Certified Max Gross Weight 1430
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats 2
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection Oct 5 2013 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 35
Airframe Hours 441
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type Unknown
Aircraft Owner Name CLAUS DONNA M
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City PEORIA
Aircraft Owner State IL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 616044741
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name John Keyworth
Operator Same as Owner? No
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? No
Operator Street Address --
Operator City Port Charlotte
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 33954
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 PGD
Departure City PUNTA GORDA
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 1400
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt dest & departure same, accident can occur anywhere
Destination Airport Code PGD
Destination City PUNTA GORDA
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Jun 18 2014 1:14PM
User who most recently changed record kenj
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 --