Kermit Weeks QUICKSILVER N69MX

Summary

On 25 September 2009 at about 19:00 local time, a Kermit Weeks QUICKSILVER registered N69MX, operated by Kermit Weeks, was involved in an accident near Polk City, Florida, United States. One person was 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

25 September 2009 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Polk City, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

World's Greatest Aircraft Coll (FA08)

Coordinates

28.1669, -81.8081

Aircraft

Kermit Weeks QUICKSILVER

Registration

N69MX

Category

Ultralight

Engines

1

Operator

Kermit Weeks

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Polk City → Polk City

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA09CA545

Nobody was injured.

The pilot’s failure to adequately inspect the landing gear floats for water prior to takeoff.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

After the pilot landed the amphibious ultralight on a lake, he taxied to the seaplane ramp and parked with about 25 percent of the floats in the water. After about 45 minutes, he attempted a takeoff on the lake and the ultralight would not lift off. He checked the floats and found a significant amount of water inside. He pumped out what he thought was all of the water and attempted another water takeoff; again the aircraft would not become airborne. He began to taxi back to the hangar and decided to perform a takeoff on the grass runway to avoid taxiing over some rough terrain. Shortly after takeoff, the nose pitched up to an excessive angle. The pilot attempted to maintain aircraft control; however the ultralight settled and impacted the runway, resulting in structural damage to the wing and fuselage. The pilot reported that there was water in the floats after the accident and that he did not inspect the floats for water before the final takeoff attempt.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.