ANC02LA073

The certificated commercial pilot was landing an amphibious float-equipped airplane on a saltwater lagoon. The pilot reported that after departing from a gravel-covered airstrip, en route to the salt-water lagoon, his attention was temporarily distracted while correcting a minor flap retraction problem. The pilot thought he had placed the landing gear retraction handle in the "up" position, in preparation for a water landing at his destination, but failed to observe 4 blue lights, indicating that wheels were up for a water landing. During touchdown in the lagoon, as the keels of the floats made contact with the water, the airplane suddenly pitched forward, and nosed over. The pilot said that as he exited the sinking airplane, he noticed that the wheels were in the "down" position. Due to the saltwater emersion damage, the landing gear retract/extension system could not be tested. The director of operations for the operator reported that when he interviewed the pilot shortly after the accident, the pilot reported that after departing from the airstrip, his attention was distracted during the wing flap anomaly, and that he just forgot to retract the wheels.

On July 7, 2002, about 1500 Alaska daylight time, an amphibious float-equipped Cessna 206 airplane, N35606, sustained substantial damage when it nosed over during touchdown while landing in a saltwater lagoon, located about 1 mile west of Karluk, Alaska. The airplane was being operated as a visual flight rules (VFR) cross-country positioning flight under Title 14, CFR Part 91, when the accident occurred. The airplane was operated by Alaska West Air, Inc., Kenai, Alaska. The commercial certificated pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed, and VFR company flight following procedures were in effect. The flight originated at the Larson Bay Airstrip, Larson Bay, Alaska, about 1445.

During a telephone conversation with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC), on July 16, the pilot reported that after departing from the gravel-covered airstrip at Larson Bay, his attention was temporarily distracted while correcting a flap retraction problem. He said that after correcting the minor flap problem, he thought he had placed the landing gear retraction handle in the "up" position, in preparation for a water landing at his destination. The pilot said that during touchdown in the lagoon at Karluk, as the keels of the floats made contact with the water, the airplane suddenly pitched forward and nosed over in about 18-inches of water. The pilot said that as he exited the airplane, he noticed that the wheels were in the "down" position. The pilot added that after the airplane was recovered from the lagoon, the landing gear extension handle was found in the "up" position. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the left wing, fuselage, and empennage.

During a follow-up telephone conversation with the NTSB IIC on July 18, the director of operations for the operator reported that when he interviewed the pilot shortly after the accident, the pilot reported that after departing from the Larson Bay Airstrip, his attention was distracted during the wing flap anomaly, and that he just forgot to retract the wheels. The director of operations added that the landing gear retract/extension handle is located on the instrument panel, and that the pilot could have inadvertently bumped the handle to the "up" position as the airplane pitched forward, and nosed over. The director of operations added that the airplane was not outfitted with any device that would warn the pilot that the landing gear was in the down position while performing a water landing. Due to the saltwater emersion damage, the landing gear retract/extension system could not be tested.

The pilot submitted an NTSB Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report (NTSB Form 6120.1) dated August 29, 2002. In the pilot's written report, he wrote, in part: "...was distracted by multiple attempts to get the flaps to work properly, when finally in landing configuration, failed to observe lack of 4 blue lights, gear up for water landing." In the section: "Mechanical Malfunction / Failure" the pilot checked the "Yes" box, and wrote: "Flaps, landing gear failed to retract."