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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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NTSB Report

February 3, 1989 · Waco YMF · N99Y

Key West, FL

Overview

Report Status
Probable Cause
Event Type
Accident
Date
February 3, 1989
Injury Outcomes
3 injuries (3 minor injuries)
Location
Key West, FL
Aircraft
Waco YMF
Tail Number
N99Y
Injuries
Minor
Aircraft Damage
Substantial
NTSB Number
MIA89LA076

THE PLT STATED THEY HAD JUST PASSED OVER A SCHOOL OF DOLPHIN WHILE ON A SIGHTSEEING FLT OVER WATER AT ABOUT 100 FT. HE REVERSED COURSE TO THE LEFT IN ORDER TO RETURN TO THE FISH & WHILE IN THE TURN THE ACFT ROLLED ABRUPTLY TO THE LEFT. ACFT ROLLED INTO A VERT BANK & THE ACFT HIT THE WATER INVERTED & SANK IN ABOUT 12 FT OF WATER. THE PLT STATED THAT HE HAD OBSERVED A C-130 TYPE ACFT FLYING IN THE AREA AT APPROX 800 FT JUST BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT STATED THAT HE & HIS WIFE RECALLED HE HAD BEEN MAKING A LOW STEEP BANK OVER THE WATER AND HE RECALLED GRAVITY FORCES PRESSING THEM DOWN INTO THE SEAT DURING THE TURN. THEY HAD COMPLETED THE 1ST STEEP TURN AND WERE IN THE 2ND BANK OF ABOUT 90 DEGS WHEN A 'GUST' WAS FELT & THE NEXT THING THEY KNEW, THEY HIT THE WATER UPSIDE DOWN. NEITHER PAX RECALLED SEEING ANY OTHER ACFT IN THE AREA. ONE PAX STATED THAT HE HAD SOME PREVIOUS FLT TIME INCLUDING SOLO.

NTSB Probable Cause

THE INABILITY OF THE PLT TO MAINTAIN CONTROL AFTER ENCOUNTERING HIS OWN WAKE TURBULENCE AT A LOW ALTITUDE DURING A STEEP TURNING MANEUVER.

Full Narrative

THE PLT STATED THEY HAD JUST PASSED OVER A SCHOOL OF DOLPHIN WHILE ON A SIGHTSEEING FLT OVER WATER AT ABOUT 100 FT. HE REVERSED COURSE TO THE LEFT IN ORDER TO RETURN TO THE FISH & WHILE IN THE TURN THE ACFT ROLLED ABRUPTLY TO THE LEFT. ACFT ROLLED INTO A VERT BANK & THE ACFT HIT THE WATER INVERTED & SANK IN ABOUT 12 FT OF WATER. THE PLT STATED THAT HE HAD OBSERVED A C-130 TYPE ACFT FLYING IN THE AREA AT APPROX 800 FT JUST BEFORE THE ACCIDENT. THE PLT STATED THAT HE & HIS WIFE RECALLED HE HAD BEEN MAKING A LOW STEEP BANK OVER THE WATER AND HE RECALLED GRAVITY FORCES PRESSING THEM DOWN INTO THE SEAT DURING THE TURN. THEY HAD COMPLETED THE 1ST STEEP TURN AND WERE IN THE 2ND BANK OF ABOUT 90 DEGS WHEN A 'GUST' WAS FELT & THE NEXT THING THEY KNEW, THEY HIT THE WATER UPSIDE DOWN. NEITHER PAX RECALLED SEEING ANY OTHER ACFT IN THE AREA. ONE PAX STATED THAT HE HAD SOME PREVIOUS FLT TIME INCLUDING SOLO.

Flight

Event TypeAccident
Event Time11:30 EST
Nearest Airport0nm N
Runway0
Runway Length0
Runway Width0
Flight Plan FiledNone
Aircraft FireNo
Aircraft ExplosionNo

Aircraft

AircraftWaco YMF
Tail NumberN99Y
Aircraft CategoryAir
DamageSubstantial
Operating RulePart 91
Engines1
Engine TypeReciprocating
Engine DetailsJacobs · R-755-B2M · Reciprocating · 275
Seats3

People & Injuries

Injury Summary3 injuries (3 minor injuries)
Fatal0
Serious0
Minor3
Uninjured0
Total3
Crew 1Age 59 · Second Class

Conditions

ConditionsVMC
LightDaylight
Wind130° @ 10 kt
Visibility10 sm
CeilingNone
Temperature / Dew Point64 F
Altimeter30.00 inHg
Observation Time16:32
Weather SourceWFAC

Appendix: Source Data