# NTSB CEN20CA254: Volmer VJ22, N59262, Erie, MI, June 27, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 27, 2020, 17:00 local (21:00 UTC) - Place: Erie, MI - Coordinates: 41.77639, -83.446945 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=41.7764&lon=-83.4469&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Central Region - Parties: FAA Flight Standards - NTSB case key (mKey): 101513 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=CEN20CA254 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101513/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101513 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/CEN20CA254 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to ensure that the amphibious airplane’s wheels were retracted before attempting a water landing, resulting in a nose over during touch down. Contributing to the accident was the lack of a checklist available to the pilot. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Volmer Jensen VJ22, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=95702WM), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Volmer Jensen VJ22, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=95702WM), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Volmer Jensen VJ22, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=95702WM), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Volmer Jensen VJ22, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=95702WM), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Volmer Jensen VJ22, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=95702WM), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Volmer Jensen VJ22, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=95702WM), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported he had departed from a paved runway in his amphibious airplane. After takeoff, he was momentarily distracted by communications with air traffic control and did not ensure the landing gear was retracted. After a short local flight, he prepared to make a water landing on a lake. However, he was unable to locate the water landing checklist in the airplane and completed the checklist from memory. During the process, he inadvertently "skipped over" verifying the landing gear was retracted. When the airplane touched down on the water, he was unable to prevent it from nosing over. Photographs of the airplane taken during recovery from the lake showed substantial damage to the fuselage and wings. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that could have contributed to the accident. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N59262](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N59262), registered now, S/N F-2 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Volmer VJ22 (No Series) - Registry model: [Volmer Jensen VJ22](https://openairdocs.org/model/volmer-jensen-vj22) (registry code 95702WM) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O-290-D2](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-290-d2) (registry code 42090, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: F-2 - Year built: 1975 - Airframe hours: 274 - Engines: Lycoming O-290-D2 135 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 25, 2020, 1 hours before - Departed: TOL, Toledo, OH - Destination: None, Erie, MI - Equipment: Handheld GPS, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review March 2, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 789 total, 102 in this make and model, 703 as pilot in command, 22 in the last 90 days, 20 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 190° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 29.76 inHg - Observed at: TOL, 80 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20200627011089A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200627011089A), Jun 27, 2020: Lloyd Ferry VJ22, Erie, MI, Substantial damage. This was the initial flight after a condition inspection and ADS-B post install flight. The pilot stated this was his first flight in the aircraft in… ## Other investigations on N59262 (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 NYC88DFA01](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC88DFA01), May 29, 1988: Lloyd Feary VJ-22 (N59262), Kingston, NY, substantial damage ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 7, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101513. 4.1 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 3.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485992&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Accident Photos (item 2, .PDF, 849 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40485993&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos-Master.PDF 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. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.