# NTSB ERA25LA135: Icon A5, N459BA, Smithville, TN, February 25, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 25, 2025, 15:45 local (21:45 UTC) - Place: Smithville, TN - Coordinates: 36.045272, -85.802406 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.0453&lon=-85.8024&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: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/ FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 199802 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA135 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199802/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199802 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA135 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to retract the landing gear prior to landing in water. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to use the manufacturer’s provided checklist. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Icon A5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=06001A7), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/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: [Icon A5, 3 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=06001A7), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Icon A5, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=06001A7), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/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: [Icon A5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=06001A7), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Icon A5, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=06001A7), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis After fueling the airplane at a nearby airport, the pilot was returning to his home lake to perform a water landing. During the landing, the landing gear were still configured in the extended position. The landing gear contacted the water and the airplane nosed down into the water. The airplane subsequently submerged in the water and sank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and left wing. The pilot reported there were no mechanical failures or anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. Postaccident examination of the wreckage revealed that the landing gear had no abnormalities that prevented normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N459BA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N459BA), registered now, S/N 00070, built 2018 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ICON A5 - Registry model: [Icon A5](https://openairdocs.org/model/icon-a5) (registry code 06001A7) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912 IS series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912-is-series) (registry code 55593, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 00070 - Year built: 2018 - Airframe hours: 281 - Engines: Rotax 912 iSc2 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 15, 2025, 30 hours before - Departed: 0A5, Smithville, TN - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: 0A3, Smithville Muni - Equipment: Airframe parachute, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 76; injuries: minor; student; medical: sport pilot; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 90 total, 68 in this make and model, 14 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 68 °F, dew point 34 °F - Altimeter: 29.87 inHg - Observed at: SRB, 13 nm away - METAR: KSRB 252155Z AUTO 28007G14KT 250V310 10SM CLR 20/01 A2987 RMK A01 ## 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 20250225003009A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250225003009A), Feb 25, 2025: Icon Aircraft Inc A5, Smithville, TN, Substantial damage. The student pilot was conducting a solo flight. After a refuel stop in Smithville, the PIC forgot to raise the landing gear. PIC returned to center hill lake… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 17, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199802. 3.1 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18576105&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Form%201_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 68 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18576519&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Pilot%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� checklist statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 62 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18577804&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Oxender%20Checklist%20Confirmation-Rel.pdf - Landing gear exam (item 4, PDF, 1 page, 29 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18577866&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=070gear_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 5, PDF, 5 pages, 1.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18577111&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-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.