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Aviation safety reports, made easier to study

NTSB Reports is an independent research and search tool for public aviation accident and incident records. It brings NTSB aviation reports, structured fields, docket files, extracted figures, photos, videos, and update history into one searchable interface.

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April 1, 1988 · Cessna 150J · N50715

Guntersville, AL

Overview

Report Status
Preliminary report
Event Type
Accident
Date
April 1, 1988
Injury Outcomes
1 injury (1 minor injury)
Location
Guntersville, AL
Aircraft
Cessna 150J
Tail Number
N50715
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
ATL88LA127

THE SEAPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE WATER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE PLT RPTD THAT A LARGE SPIDER DROPPED IN FRONT OF HIM AND DISTRACTED HIM. THE AIRPLANE WAS IN A GRADUAL RIGHT TURN ABOUT 100 FT ABOVE THE WATER AT THE TIME. HE ATTEMPTED TO SWAT THE SPIDER WITH HIS HAT AND INADVERTENTLY ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO DESCEND INTO THE WATER. THE AIRPLANE FLIPPED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. HE EXITED THE AIRPLANE AS IT SANK AND WAS RESCUED BY A FISHERMAN. THE PLT NOTED THAT THE WATER WAS GLASSY AND THAT THE SKY WAS OVERCAST AT THE TIME. HE INDICATED THAT THE LACK OF NEARBY OUTSIDE VISUAL REFERENCES CONTRIBUTED TO HIS INADVERTENTLY ALLOWING THE AIRPLANE TO DESCEND INTO THE WATER.

Full Narrative

THE SEAPLANE COLLIDED WITH THE WATER SHORTLY AFTER TAKEOFF. THE PLT RPTD THAT A LARGE SPIDER DROPPED IN FRONT OF HIM AND DISTRACTED HIM. THE AIRPLANE WAS IN A GRADUAL RIGHT TURN ABOUT 100 FT ABOVE THE WATER AT THE TIME. HE ATTEMPTED TO SWAT THE SPIDER WITH HIS HAT AND INADVERTENTLY ALLOWED THE AIRPLANE TO DESCEND INTO THE WATER. THE AIRPLANE FLIPPED OVER AND CAME TO REST INVERTED. HE EXITED THE AIRPLANE AS IT SANK AND WAS RESCUED BY A FISHERMAN. THE PLT NOTED THAT THE WATER WAS GLASSY AND THAT THE SKY WAS OVERCAST AT THE TIME. HE INDICATED THAT THE LACK OF NEARBY OUTSIDE VISUAL REFERENCES CONTRIBUTED TO HIS INADVERTENTLY ALLOWING THE AIRPLANE TO DESCEND INTO THE WATER.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time15:00 CST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftCessna 150J
Tail NumberN50715
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsLycoming · O-320-E2D · Reciprocating · 150
Seats2

People & Injuries

Injury Summary1 injury (1 minor injury)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor1
Uninjured0
Total1
Crew 1Age 50 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
WindCalm
Visibility5 sm
CeilingOvercast 3000 ft
Temperature / Dew Point0 C
Altimeter0
Weather SourcePILO

External Links

Appendix: Source Data