The flight instructor reported that during the water takeoff near Renton, Washington, he noticed a jet boat that was operating about 1,000 feet east of the Cessna 172 floatplane.
The boat was traveling generally in the same direction and diverging from the area where they planned to takeoff.
During the takeoff run, the boat abruptly altered its course and began to converge upon the floatplane’s takeoff path.
The flight instructor told the pilot receiving instruction to turn left, as he retarded the throttle to the idle position in an attempt to avoid the boat.
The boat hit the right side of the floatplane, substantially damaging the right-side empennage and stabilizer.
Just before the boat hit the floatplane, the pilot observed that the boat operator was turned completely towards the rear of the boat.
Probable Cause: The boat operator’s failure to remain a safe distance from the floatplane during the takeoff run, which resulted in a collision.
To download the final report. Click here. This will trigger a PDF download to your device.
This July 2021 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.
I obtained my SES Comm add-on at Seattle Seaplanes, based on Lake Union. Often we went to Lake Washington as well.
At Lake Union, the problem is largely paddle boarders and kayakers, since wakeless speeds are required. I was amazed at how little concern these folks had for that rotating scimitar on the nose of our trainer! More than once, I began the takeoff run and had to pull the throttle because some nitwit had decided to cross in front of the airplane. And finding a clear space to land wasn’t always easy, either.
At Lake Washington, the boats are generally faster, so we made a point of staying far, far away from them. It’s not nearly as crowded as Lake Union, though, so that’s pretty easy to do.
The important point to remember is that boaters don’t require licensing, or training, and many haven’t the faintest idea of the “rules of the road” promulgated by the Coast Guard.
Got mine at Kenmore on Lake Washington. Unfortunately, as the population around here has exploded, so has the number of (fill in the blank with your favorite adjectives) occurrences.
I enjoyed watching the airline operators jockeying around boats while landing and taking off in the bay at St Thomas VI.
Speechless!!! How does this even get close to happening?! I hope the insurance policy was paid up…..
Come on up to the Seattle area and hang out on Lake Washington or Lake Union. Bring a camera.