# NTSB ERA25LA131: Mallory Horton AQUA-BEE, N799RX, Miami, FL, February 25, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 25, 2025, 15:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Miami, FL - Coordinates: 25.913283, -80.27507 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.9133&lon=-80.2751&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: No injuries - Injuries: 1 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/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 199777 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA131 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199777/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199777 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA131 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to lower the landing gear before touchdown. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Mallory Horton AQUA-BEE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=05639D3), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: main landing gear](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [Mallory Horton AQUA-BEE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/cases.md?model=05639D3), [All aircraft, 241 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023210/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: [Mallory Horton AQUA-BEE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=05639D3), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Mallory Horton AQUA-BEE, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05639D3), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) ## Analysis At the conclusion of the local test flight of the experimental amateur-built amphibious airplane, the pilot arrived back in the airport traffic pattern for landing. After receiving clearance to land, he arrived over the runway, reduced power and flared for landing, realizing that he had not extended the landing gear when he heard the hull contact the runway. The airplane skidded to a stop resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage/hull. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N799RX](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N799RX), registered now, S/N 1981, built 2020 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MALLORY HORTON AQUA-BEE - Registry model: [Mallory Horton AQUA-BEE](https://openairdocs.org/model/mallory-horton-aqua-bee) (registry code 05639D3) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1981 - Year built: 2020 - Airframe hours: 157 - Engines: Chevrolet LS6 350 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, January 15, 2024, 120 hours before - Flight plan: VFR - Airport: TMB, Miami Exec, runway 09L/27R, 5,003 × 150 ft, asphalt - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 65; injuries: none; flight engineer, airline transport, flight instructor, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 15, 2025; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 27,394 total, 157 in this make and model, 4,380 as pilot in command, 2 in the last 90 days, 2 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 140° at 13 knots, gusting 24 - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 11,000 ft broken - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 63 °F - Altimeter: 29.89 inHg - Observed at: OPF - METAR: KOPF 241853Z 14013G24KT 10SM -RA BKN110 22/17 A2989 RMK AO2 PK WND 13027/1840 RAB47 SLP122 P0000 T02170167 ## 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 20250225001709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250225001709A), Feb 25, 2025: Mallory Horton AQUA-BEE, Miami, FL, Substantial damage. A 14 CFR part 91 personal flight on an experimental aircraft, landed gear up on runway 27R at tmb resulting in substantial damage. The aircraft had 1 pilot on… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 9, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199777. 4.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18422492&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%27s%206120%20Accident%20Report_N799RX_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Initial pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18408452&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 1.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18409322&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array_Airplane%20and%20Damage_N99RX-Rel.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.