Kenneth A Berger SEAREY LSX accident near Electric City, WA
On May 24, 2014, a Kenneth A Berger SEAREY LSX (airplane) was involved in an accident near Electric City, WA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- May 24, 2014
- Place
- Electric City, WA
- Aircraft
- Kenneth A Berger SEAREY LSX · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 0 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 47.873°N, 119.117°W
- NTSB ID
- 20140524X21540
Official records · WPR14FA209
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
HISTORY OF FLIGHTOn May 24, 2014 about 1650 Pacific daylight time, an experimental, amateur built, Searey LSX amphibious airplane, N249PW, sustained substantial damage during takeoff at Banks Lake, about 5 miles southwest of Electric City, Washington. The airplane was owned and being operated by the pilot as a visual flight rules personal cross-country flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident, and the solo pilot received fatal injuries. The airplane was departing Banks Lake bound for Lake Washington, near Seattle, Washington. On May 25, witnesses at Banks Lake told the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) that the airplane had arrived at Banks Lake on Thursday, May 22. After landing the pilot had lowered the land wheels with the intent to taxi the airplane on to a beach. Approaching the beach the left main landing gear wheel struck a submerged berm damaging the landing gear and its supporting structure. The pilot, who was authorized to perform maintenance on the airplane, spent the next several days making temporary repairs, which included tying the damaged left landing gear leg, up to the left wing lift strut, and repairing a leaking through hull boot with tape. After completing the repairs, the pilot attempted to takeoff from the lake. On May 26, an additional witness told the NTSB IIC that he was on the lake fishing from his boat, when he heard and saw the airplane attempt to takeoff. He said the airplane started a high speed run but th
Probable cause
The pilot’s failure to maintain pitch control during takeoff after encountering a boat wake, which resulted in the airplane bouncing, impacting the water’s surface, and subsequently becoming submerged.
More accidents in WA
- Dehavilland DHC-3, Sep 4, 2022
- Cessna 208B, Oct 8, 2007
- Cessna 172P, Dec 7, 1991
- Piper PA-32-260, Jul 29, 2001
- Beech A60, Nov 21, 1992
Browse: Washington
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
