On July 23, 1998, a Cessna 175 (registration N7199M) was involved in an aviation accident near Sheboygan, WI. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's inadequate fuel management which led to fuel exhaustion. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A seaplane pilot reported engine coughing and sputtering after takeoff, suspecting water ingestion. The aircraft reached about 75 feet before descending into water, inverting. Investigators found water in the carburetor float bowl.
Flight and Engine Performance
The pilot of the seaplane reported that the engine runup was normal. After takeoff, the engine coughed and sputtered. The pilot believed that some water had entered the engine's air intake. He stated that the airplane did not get much higher than 75 feet above the water.
Witness Observations
Witnesses reported hearing the engine's RPM increase and decrease before the aircraft descended and collided with the water in a left-wing-low attitude. Following the collision sequence, the airplane ended up in the water in an inverted position.
Post-Accident Findings
Initial responders reported no fuel or oil slick around the airplane. Examination of the engine revealed that the carburetor float bowl was full of water and was pumped out by fuel. Once fuel was present in the carburetor, the engine started and ran to full power.