# NTSB ERA25LA182: Robb Aventura II, N744RA, Elmore, AL, April 13, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: April 13, 2025, 18:40 local (23:40 UTC) - Place: Elmore, AL - Coordinates: 32.51856, -86.28604 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.5186&lon=-86.2860&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: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor, 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 6, 2025 - 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): 200046 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA182 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200046/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200046 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA182 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to configure the airplane for a water landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [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: [Robb AVENTURA II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=05619R4), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/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: [Robb AVENTURA II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=05619R4), [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: [Robb AVENTURA II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=05619R4), [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: [Robb AVENTURA II, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05619R4), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the amphibious airplane departed on a personal flight and performed several water landings on a lake. Upon leaving the area of the lake for the return flight to the departure airport, he lowered the landing gear (deviating from his standard procedure of lowering the landing gear while in the airport traffic pattern). Upon reaching the airport, and realizing there was still daylight remaining, he elected to perform one more water landing on a nearby river. Approaching the river, he lowered the flaps but neglected to verify the correct position of the landing gear and touched down on water with the landing gear extended. After touchdown the airplane nosed down and came to an abrupt stop resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot stated that there was no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures or of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N744RA](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N744RA), registered now, S/N AA2A0122, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: ROBB AVIATION LLC AVENTURA II (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Robb AVENTURA II](https://openairdocs.org/model/robb-aventura-ii) (registry code 05619R4) (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: AA2A0122 - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 234 - Engines: Rotax 912ULS 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, February 26, 2025, 16 hours before - Departed: 08A, Wetumpka, AL - Airport: NA - Equipment: Airframe parachute ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 56; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review October 14, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 739 total, 113 in this make and model, 657 as pilot in command, 28 in the last 90 days, 13 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.05 inHg - Observed at: KMXF, 7 nm away - METAR: KMXF 132355Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 21/06 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP178 T02120059 10241 20206 55005 FZRANO $ ## 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 20250413003899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250413003899A), Apr 13, 2025: Robb Aviation LLC AVENTURA II, Elmore, AL, Substantial damage. Pilot failed to retract landing gear while attempting a water landing. ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 6, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200046. 3.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 1.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19373135&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_1_Form_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Record of NTSB conversation (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 3 photos, 896 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19372482&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=FINAL%20Record%20of%20Convo%20w%20William%20Brock%204%2021%202025%20v02_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Release of aircraft wreckage, NTSB form 6120.15 (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 676 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19372112&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Fully%20Exctd%20Wreckage%20Release%20Form_Recd%206%209%202025_Redacted-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.