20250225003009A

Accident · Substantial damage

FAA accident report · Icon A5 · Smithville, TN · February 25, 2025

Date: February 25, 2025 · 16:45 local
Place: Smithville, TN
Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Substantial damage
Aircraft: N459BA
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA25LA135
Reported as: Icon A5
Reported engine: ROTAX 912 IS
People aboard: 1
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 0
Pilot’s certificate: Student
Pilot’s flight hours: 89 total68 in this make and model13 in the last 90 days

N459BARegistered now · Icon A5S/N 00070 · Built 2018 Airframe modelIcon A5 Engine modelRotax 912 IS series4 cycle

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

The student pilot was conducting a solo flight. After a refuel stop in Smithville, the PIC forgot to raise the landing gear. PIC returned to center hill lake for a water landing. PIC failed to raise the gear prior to touchdown with the water, resuliting in the accident. Aircraft came to a rest. PIC exited the aircraft.

As the FAA filed it

THE STUDENT PILOT WAS CONDUCTING A SOLO FLIGHT. AFTER A REFUEL STOP IN SMITHVILLE, THE PIC FORGOT TO RAISE THE LANDING GEAR. PIC RETURNED TO CENTER HILL LAKE FOR A WATER LANDING. PIC FAILED TO RAISE THE GEAR PRIOR TO TOUCHDOWN WITH THE WATER, RESULITING IN THE ACCIDENT. AIRCRAFT CAME TO A REST. PIC EXITED THE AIRCRAFT.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA25LA135Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportSmithville, TNThe pilot’s failure to retract the landing gear prior to landing in water. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to use the manufacturer’s provided checklist.Feb 25, 2025 · Substantial damage