The non-certificated pilot reported that, following an uneventful local sightseeing flight in his Searey, he conducted a low pass over a lake near Stanwood, Wash., with glassy water conditions, but he did not intend to land.
He thought the plane was about 3 or 4 feet above the water when it suddenly skimmed the water’s surface.
He pulled up, but the plane nosed down into the water, and it became partially submerged.
It is likely that the glassy water conditions adversely affected the pilot’s depth perception, which led to his subsequent failure to judge the height above the water and resulted in the inadvertent touchdown.
The NTSB determined the probable cause as the non-certificated pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from water while maneuvering at a low altitude over glassy water conditions, which adversely affected his depth perception.
NTSB Identification: WPR14LA112
This January 2014 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
“Amen!” to Jay’s comment.
Regarding flying without a certificate, sometimes State Law can be a means of discouraging this. In Michigan fly 3X without a certificate and it’s a felony.
I’ve had run ins with “non certified pilots” now and then with both medical and aircraft annual well expired. Usually it’s at a non towered airport and usually it’s an elderly gentleman in something without a radio, not checking the pattern before he gets on the runway, and then flying a right hand pattern when the airport has a left hand pattern. If I’m really lucky he will also be flying the pattern for the incorrect runway based on the wind. I made the mistake of confronting one of these gentleman only once. I was informed not so kindly that he had been flying for XX number of years at this airport and he does not care what dangers he caused to anyone else and I can go pound sand, because he has been doing this forever.
The message in this story is to make sure to keep your head on a swivel out there, because not everyone is aware of or cares about rules or standard procedures. Just like being a defensive driver in your vehicle.
I hope you reported him.
And? What was done punitively to the “non-certificated pilot?” Did he receive a “non-certificated” letter of reprimand from the FAA? A “flying too low” summons from the local constabulary? Or did he repair his Searey to continue his non-certificated forays into our otherwise highly regulated airspace?
The Feds couldn’t revoke his license as punitive action since he didn’t have one. Could they impound his aircraft? Perhaps.
Reminds me of a guy I know who wrecked his Piper PA-12. He called the FAA to report it(stupid) and they asked if anyone was hurt. He said ‘no’, so they said they would suspend his certificate for 90 days”. He said that was no problem because the airplane was torn up so he couldn’t fly it and he didn’t have a license. They hung up on him. I guess they could fine someone for flying without a certificate, but they will be too busy now, going after all of the unregistered model airplane & drone pilots.