Zwicker Murray R GLASTAR N89SR

Summary

On 30 April 2017 at about 22:10 local time, a Zwicker Murray R GLASTAR registered N89SR was involved in an accident near Napa, California, 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

30 April 2017 at 22:10

Classification

Accident

Location

Napa, California, United States

Coordinates

38.6556, -122.2622

Aircraft

Zwicker Murray R GLASTAR

Registration

N89SR

Category

Airplane

Year built

1997

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Concord → Concord

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

GAA17CA301

Nobody was injured.

The amphibious float-equipped airplane's encounter with a submerged object during a water landing, which resulted in a nose-over.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the amphibious float-equipped airplane reported that, after the owner had completed multiple touch-and-go water landings, he chose to take the flight controls and perform a few water landings himself. He added that his first touch-and-go water landing "went very well." However, during the second touch-and-go water landing, the touchdown was smooth, but as he added power to "begin the climb away," the airplane veered right and nosed over into the water. He added that the right float may have struck a submerged object during the landing. The right wing lift strut sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Inspector who inspected the accident airplane postaccident, the forward first third section of the right float was bent upward and had "scratching and scoring" marks on the bottom side of the float. He added that he did not observe any rust or corrosion on either float. A review of the FAA airman certification database revealed that neither pilot held an airplane single-engine sea rating.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.