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NC6131K
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AIRCRAFT DATA |
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| Manufacturer: | Republic Aviation Corporation; Farmingdale, Long Island, New York, USA. | |
| Model: | RC-3 Seabee | |
| Type Certificate No: | A-769 | |
| Serial Number: | 317 | |
| Manufacturing Date: | 1947-01-?? | |
| Engine: | Franklin 6A8-215-B8F (215 HP at 2500 RPM) | |
| Remarks: | Mode S codes: 51776150 / A7FC68 | |
| Reg. No. | Date | Remarks |
| NC6131K | 1947-01-?? | Manufacturing Date. |
| 1947-01-?? | Test flight. | |
| 1947-01-31 | Officially delivered from Republic Aviation Company to North American Airport Corporation; White Plains, New York, USA. | |
| 1947-02-13 | C
of R issued to: Leslie P. McDougal; 55 East 77th Street, New York, New York 10001. |
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| 1947-07-?? | Lake
Champlain, Vermont.
Leslie McDougal and his wife (they were just recently married) had taken the recently purchased Seabee for a flight on a crystal clear June day in 1947. It being such a picturesque day the couple decided to land on the lake. Being a relatively inexperienced pilot, McDougal forgot to raise his landing gear before touching down on the lake’s surface. With the wheels dragging through the water the plane rapidly became nose heavy and flipped upside down. The newlyweds were able to escape from the cabin of the plane and find refuge on the upturned floats of the plane. They were soon rescued by fishermen who had witnessed the accident, and taken to shore. In an effort to save the plane, Bruce Crary, former owner of Westport Marina, brought two boats to the crash site and tied onto the plane. They began to slowly tow the aircraft back to shore. However they soon noticed that the Seabee was rapidly taking on water and they were just able to cut their towlines as the plane rapidly sank into deep water. While several plans were formulated to raise the plane, none of them proved viable and the wreck was abandoned. |
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| 1955-10-17 | Cancelled from CAA Register. | |
| Sources: | RAC
Seabee Delivery List. FAA Registry. Barry Collman. Matt Miller. |
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