# NTSB ERA20CA081: Pereyra Aventura, N366RC, East Palatka, FL, January 14, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: January 14, 2020, 18:26 local (23:26 UTC) - Place: East Palatka, FL - Coordinates: 29.655277, -81.618331 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.6553&lon=-81.6183&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 July 27, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 100832 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA081 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/100832/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100832 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA081 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to properly configure the amphibious airplane for a water landing, which resulted in it flipping over. ## 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 · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Clifton Robert B AVENTURA II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023246/cases.md?model=05619Y9), [All aircraft, 48 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023246/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Clifton Robert B AVENTURA II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=05619Y9), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot; cases with it: [Clifton Robert B AVENTURA II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=05619Y9), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/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: [Clifton Robert B AVENTURA II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=05619Y9), [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: [Clifton Robert B AVENTURA II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05619Y9), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he took off from a river behind his home and proceeded to a local airport where he lowered the landing gear and performed three touch-and-go landings. The pilot said he was preoccupied during the return flight to the river for a water landing and "forgot" to retract the landing gear for the pontoon-hull landing. At touchdown, the airplane immediately flipped over and came to rest inverted. The fuselage forward of the landing gear sustained substantial damage. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot of the experimental, amateur-built amphibious airplane, he took off from the river behind his home, and proceeded to a local airport where he lowered the landing gear and performed three touch-and-go landings. The pilot said he was preoccupied during the return flight for a water landing and "forgot" to retract the landing gear for the pontoon-hull landing. At touchdown, the airplane "flipped immediately" and came to rest inverted. The airplane's fuselage, forward of the landing gear was fractured. The pilot did not report any preaccident deficiencies with the performance and handling of the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N366RC](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N366RC-2023-03-01), registration cancelled 2023-03-01, S/N AA2A0125, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Pereyra AVENTURA (II) - Registry model: [Clifton Robert B AVENTURA II](https://openairdocs.org/model/clifton-robert-b-aventura-ii) (registry code 05619Y9) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: AA2A0125 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 344.66 - Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 26, 2019, 43 hours before - Departed: East Palatka, FL - Destination: East Palatka, FL - Equipment: None ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 388 total, 40.4 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 8 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,300 ft broken - Temperature: 37 °F, dew point 16 °F - Observed at: 28J ## 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 20200114003559A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200114003559A), Jan 14, 2020: Clifton Robert B AVENTURA II, Palatka, FL, Destroyed. Pilot states he was flying from Palatka airport to saint johns river for a water landing and forgot to retract the landing gears. When aircraft landed on water… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 7, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=100832. 595 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Memo for Record (item 1, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483525&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Memo%20for%20Record-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 96 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483526&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF - Photo Array (item 3, .PDF, 447 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40483527&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%20Array-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.