# NTSB ERA13CA207: Cessna A185F, N812F, Palatka, FL, April 16, 2013 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 16, 2013, 17:10 local (21:10 UTC) - Place: Palatka, FL - Coordinates: 29.681943, -81.646385 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6819&lon=-81.6464&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report July 23, 2013 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 86669 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA13CA207 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/86669/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86669 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA13CA207 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to retract the landing gear after takeoff from a runway, and his subsequent water landing with the wheels extended. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: wheel/ski/float](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023246): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023246/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023246/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: [Cessna A185F, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=2072821), [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: [Cessna A185F, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was performing a water touch-and-go landing on a river, about 3 miles from the departure airport. He also reported that he was distracted by potential skydivers, towers in the area, and by his passenger as they discussed the route of flight. He did not retract the landing gear after he took off and he landed the amphibious airplane on the water with the wheels extended. The airplane immediately nosed over and came to rest inverted in the water. The pilot reported that the fuselage and wings sustained structural damage. He did not report any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The private pilot reported that he was performing a water touch-and-go landing on a river, about three miles from the departure airport. He also reported that he was distracted by potential skydivers, towers in the area, and by discussing the route of flight with his passenger. He did not retract the landing gear following the previous runway takeoff, and landed the amphibious airplane on the water with the wheels extended. The airplane immediately nosed over and came to rest inverted in the water. The pilot reported that the fuselage and wings sustained structural damage. He did not report any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N812F](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N812F), registered now, S/N 18503277, built 1977 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: CESSNA A185F - Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 18503277 - Airframe hours: 6974 - Engines: CONT MOTOR IO 520 SERIES 300 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Lindsay A. Weaver - Registered owner: Mountain Skywagon LLC - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, July 16, 2012, 58 hours before - Departed: 28J, Palatka, FL - Destination: ARW, Beaufort, SC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 60; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review February 4, 2013; seat: left; flight hours: 2,779 total, 519 in this make and model, 2,553 as pilot in command, 73 in the last 90 days, 18 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 40° at 12 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 75 °F, dew point 68 °F - Altimeter: 30.18 inHg - Observed at: SGJ, 23 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 20130416005479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20130416005479A), Apr 16, 2013: Cessna A185F, Palatka, FL, Substantial damage. Pilot left the landing gear extended while making a water landing. The aircraft flipped over upside down. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 6, 2013, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=86669. 5.6 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 1.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391668&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Recovery of Wreckage (Photo Supplied by Pilot) (item 2, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391728&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Recovery%20of%20Wreckage%20(Photo%20Supplied%20by%20Pilot)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Wreckage After Recovery (Photo Supplied by Pilot) (item 3, .PDF, 2.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40391729&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Wreckage%20After%20Recovery%20(Photo%20Supplied%20by%20Pilot)-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.