Amateur-built SEAREY N502BK accident near League City, Texas

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain airplane control during a water takeoff after an encounter with the wake from a boat.

NTSB analysis

The pilot of the amphibious airplane reported that he had made a landing on the lake surface and then performed a step-taxi into the wind. He then applied full power to takeoff and the airplane hit a wave from a passing boat. When the airplane struck the second wave from the boat, the front of the airplane went under water. The nose of the airplane was ripped off. With the engine still running, the airplane nosed over and filled with water.

In his report the pilot noted that he had not set the airplane's trim properly and he failed to apply back pressure on the controls when he hit the boat wake. He also noted that there were no pre-impact mechanical failures or malfunctions that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN20CA348 for the full record.