Aerofab LAKE SEAWOLF N65RF

Summary

On 16 November 2000 at about 16:20 local time, a Aerofab LAKE SEAWOLF registered N65RF was involved in an accident near Frostproof, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 November 2000 at 16:20

Classification

Accident

Location

Frostproof, Florida, United States

Coordinates

27.7844, -81.6369

Aircraft

Aerofab LAKE SEAWOLF

Registration

N65RF

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Public Use

Purpose of flight

Instructional

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Bartow → MacDill AFB

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

MIA01TA237

Nobody was injured.

The failure of the instructor pilot and dual student to begin the water takeoff with adequate clearance from the lake shore for the dual student to complete the takeoff and the failure of the instructor pilot to recognize in a timely manner during the takeoff that there was not adequate clearance from the lake shore to complete the takeoff and abort the takeoff, resulting in the airplane colliding with the terrain near the lake shore and coming to rest in a field about 900 feet inland from the lake shore.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The aircraft operator reported that after takeoff from MacDill AFB, the flight proceeded to Lake Hancock, where four takeoffs and landings were performed. The flight then proceeded to Bartow, Florida, where the airplane was refueled. The flight departed Bartow at 1100 and proceeded to Lake Buffum. A landing was performed on Lake Buffum followed by a short back taxi prior to commencing takeoff. The instructor pilot took control of the airplane from the dual student during the takeoff run as the airplane approached the end of the lake. The airplane was flying in ground effect when it crossed the edge of the lake, skid 60 feet up a gradual grass slope and launched approximately 4 feet off the ground. The airplane flew 349 feet at this altitude, clearing 2 barbed wire fences and crossing under power lines. The airplane clipped the top of a third barbed wire fence. The airplane started to lightly drag its tail traveling for 152 feet in this manner. The airplane got back into the air for 130 feet in time to clear a 56 foot wide ditch. The instructor pilot, seeing a flat field ahead and realizing the airplane was not going to climb, cut the power and set the airplane down. The airplane skid on its belly for 251 feet. The wave height in the lake was estimated at 10 inches, the wind was out of the southeast at 12 knots, and the takeoff was to the east-southeast. The aircraft operator reported they found no mechanical problems with the aircraft structure, flight controls, engine, or propeller after the accident.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.