# Accident 20240803014869A: Aviat Aircraft Inc A-1C-180, Syracuse, IN, August 3, 2024

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: August 3, 2024, 13:00 local time
- Place: Syracuse, IN
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Takeoff: Rotation
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 41.3985° N, 85.6974° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.3985&lon=-85.6974&mi=10
- Aircraft: N177DB, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N177DB-2025-09-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Aviat A-1C-180 (registry code 2210410, https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1c-180) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Lycoming O-360-A1P (registry code 42259, https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-360-a1p) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC A-1C-180
- Reported engine: LYCOMING O-360-A1P
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 500 total, 100 in this make and model, 10 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB CEN24LA300](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA300) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240803014869A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE PRIVATE PILOT STATED THAT HE BEGAN HIS FLIGHT FROM ANGOLA, INDIANA FOR A FLIGHT TO LAKE WAWASEE IN INDIANA.  THE PILOT REPORTED THAT DURING A LANDING ABOUT 6 WEEKS PRIOR, HE EXPEREINCED A HARD LANDING. THE PILOT STATED THAT THIS PREVIOUS LANDING HAD PLACED A SIGNIFICANT SIDE LOAD ON THE AIRCRAFT. DURING THE LANDING ON LAKE WAWASEE ON AUGUST 3, 2024, THE PILOT REPORTED THE AIRCRAFT SEEMED TO BE PULLING SLIGHTLY TOWARD THE LEFT BUT CONTINUED IN FOR A LANDING. AFTER TOUCHDOWN ON THE LAKE HE REPORTED THAT SOMETHING DID NOT FEEL RIGHT AND NOTICED THE AIRCRAFT PULLING SLIGHTLY TO THE LEFT. THE PILOT REPORTED ADDING FULL POWER FOR TAKEOFF.  IT WAS NOTICED FROM WATCHING VIDEO REPORTS OF THIS AIRCRAFT,  THE NOSE OF THE AIRCRAFT MOMENTARILY PITCHED DOWNWARD DURING TAKEOFF ROLL THEN RAPIDLY PITCHED UP SIGNIFICANTLY MORE THAN WHAT WOULD BE REQUIRED FOR A NORMAL TAKEOFF.  CLOSER INSPECTION OF THE VIDEO REVEALED THAT RIGHT BEFORE THE NOSE PITCHED DOWNWARD, THE FLAPS APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN LOWERED TO WHAT LOOKED LIKE THE FULL DOWN POSITION.  THAT IS WHEN IT APPEARED THE FLOATS PITCHED DOWN INTO THE WATER, THE AIRCRAFT NOSE PITCHED UP SIGNIFICANTLY AND THE LEFT WING ROLLING TO THE LEFT UNTIL CONTACT WITH THE WATER WAS MADE.  THE AIRCRAFT ROTATED TO THE LEFT AND CAME TO A SUDDEN STOP IN THE LAKE AT THIS POINT. PILOT WAS RESCUED AND TAKEN TO SHORE.  PRELIMINARY REPORTS INDICATE THE PILOT MAY HAVE BEEN OPERATING THIS AIRCRAFT WHILE IN ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ FOR AIRCRAFT OPERATION.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB CEN24LA300](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN24LA300), Aug 3, 2024: Aviat A-1C-180 (N177DB), South Park, IN, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain airplane control during takeoff.

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

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