Consolidated Aeronautics Inc. PBY-5A accident near Lincoln City, Oregon, July 8, 1994
On July 8, 1994 at about 5:00 pm local time, a Consolidated Aeronautics Inc. PBY-5A, registered N2172N, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lincoln City, Oregon. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
THE PILOT'S FAILURE TO MAINTAIN CLEARANCE FROM A BOAT DOCK DURING THE ABORTED TAKEOFF. FACTORS INCLUDE THE PILOT'S POOR INFLIGHT DECISION TO LAND ON A NARROW LAKE UNDER UNFAVORABLE WIND CONDITIONS, AND STRONG CROSSWINDS DURING THE ATTEMPTED TAKEOFF.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 8, 1994 · about 5:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lincoln City, Oregon · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Consolidated Aeronautics Inc. PBY-5A
- Registration
- N2172N · registry record · serial 4652Z
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
WHILE ATTEMPTING A TAKEOFF IN STRONG CROSSWINDS FROM A NARROW LAKE, THE PILOT WAS NOT ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE AIRCRAFT. HE THEREFORE ELECTED TO ABORT THE TAKEOFF, BUT EXPERIENCED 'LIMITED STEERABILITY' BECAUSE THE AIRCRAFT WAS NOT WATER-RUDDER EQUIPPED. AS THE AIRCRAFT SLOWED, THE PILOT WAS NOT ABLE TO KEEP IT FROM IMPACTING A NEARBY BOAT DOCK.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; multi-engine sea; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: helicopter; instructor: instrument airplane; instructor: instrument helicopter; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: glider; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 16,000 hours in all; 50 in this make and model; 100 in the last 90 days; 21 in the last 30 days; 15,500 as pilot in command; 3,700 on instruments
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 5,223 hours
- Last inspection: approved inspection programme, July 7, 1994; 1 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 27,800 lb
- Seats: 5
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: P&W R1830-92 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AST Astoria OR at 4:30 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: at 25 knots, gusting 30
- Visibility: 30 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 61°F (16°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Other NTSB records under N2172N the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.