High Craft BUCCANEER UNREG

Summary

On 16 May 2004 at about 19:30 local time, a High Craft BUCCANEER registered UNREG, operated by Theodore Covert, was involved in an accident near Glasco, New York, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

16 May 2004 at 19:30

Classification

Accident

Location

Glasco, New York, United States

Nearest airport

None

Coordinates

42.3497, -73.9497

Aircraft

High Craft BUCCANEER

Registration

UNREG

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Theodore Covert

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Glasco → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC04LA130

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain airspeed during landing, which resulted in an inadvertent stall and subsequent impact with the water. A factor was the pilot's lack of experience in the airplane and his diverted attention.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was preparing for a landing on the lake when he was "distracted" by people standing on the docks waving to him. He stated that he removed his hand from the throttle to wave back, and the engine rpm decreased momentarily. He then applied power; however, at an altitude of about 40 to 50 feet, he "inadvertently stalled the airplane," and it "pancaked" onto the water. After impacting the water, the seaplane overturned, coming to rest inverted. The pilot additionally stated that he had purchased the seaplane about three weeks prior to the accident, and the accident flight was his first flight in it. He reported no mechanical deficiencies with the seaplane.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.