# NTSB ERA20CA187: Aviat A1B, N990HP, Guntersville, AL, May 15, 2020 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 15, 2020, 18:45 local (23:45 UTC) - Place: Guntersville, AL - Coordinates: 34.554721, -86.123054 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5547&lon=-86.1231&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: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 101297 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA20CA187 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/101297/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101297 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA20CA187 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to retract the amphibious airplane's landing gear wheels prior to a water landing, which resulted in a nose over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: landing gear/wheel fairing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023201): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Unintentional use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023201/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 9 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023201/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: [Aviat A-1B, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1B, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/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: [Aviat A-1B, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=2210406), [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: [Aviat A-1B, 19 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2210406), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the amphibious float equipped airplane reported that while landing on the water, he experienced a very hard, violent landing with a nose down pitch attitude and the airplane nosed over. He further reported that, prior to the landing on the water, he had previously departed a land-based airport and while on final approach to the lake for landing, he was distracted by a boat in the area and did not verify that the landing gear was retracted for a water landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and right-wing lift struts. The pilot also reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N990HP](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N990HP-2022-11-05), registration cancelled 2022-11-05, S/N 2109, built 2000 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Aviat A1B - Registry model: [Aviat A-1B](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1b) (registry code 2210406) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming O&VO-360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-o-vo-360-series) (registry code 41514, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2109 - Year built: 2000 - Airframe hours: 1854.8 - Engines: Lycoming O-360-A1P 180 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, June 26, 2019, 99 hours before - Departed: 8A1, Guntersville, AL - Destination: HSV, Huntsville, AL - Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B, Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 31; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: helicopter, airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 21, 2020; seat: right; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 1,749 total, 149 in this make and model, 1,209 as pilot in command, 65 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 5 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 61 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: 4A6, 10 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 20200515006239A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20200515006239A), May 15, 2020: Aviat Aircraft Inc A-1B, Guntersville, AL, Substantial damage. On may 15, 2020, pilot was practicing water landings on lake Guntersville. Pilot had already completed several successful landings. During the landing phase of… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on June 29, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=101297. 976 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 851 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484980&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Damage Photo (item 2, .PDF, 124 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40484981&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Damage%20Photo-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.