Amateur-built S-6-S N528MW accident near Morgan, Vermont

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the airplane during takeoff, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and impact with water.

NTSB analysis

The pilot of the amphibious airplane reported that he was attempting to take off from a glassy water surface. The pilot had trouble getting the airplane “unstuck” from the water surface, so he pulled back on the control stick “extra hard.” This action broke the floats free from the surface tension but created a nose-high pitch attitude that resulted in the airplane entering an aerodynamic stall. The left float then impacted the water and it broke loose from the airplane before striking the underside of the left wing, resulting in substantial damage to the left wing. The airplane came to rest upright but slowly began to sink. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA26LA277 for the full record.