# NTSB ERA26LA075: Aviat A-1C-200, N656B, Hawthorne, FL, December 20, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: December 20, 2025, 17:15 local (22:15 UTC) - Place: Hawthorne, FL · Redwater Lake - Coordinates: 29.563431, -82.01846 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.5634&lon=-82.0185&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report May 21, 2026 - 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): 202199 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA26LA075 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/202199/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202199 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA26LA075 ## Probable cause The pilot’s failure to maintain an appropriate descent rate for a glassy water landing, which resulted in a hard landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: glassy surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023025/cases.md?model=2210411), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023025/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: descent rate](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md?model=2210411), [All aircraft, 242 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062037/cases.md) - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=2210411), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Aviat A-1C-200, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=2210411), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md) ## Analysis The purpose of the flight was for the pilot to depart from a paved airport in the amphibious airplane and fly to a nearby lake and land. The pilot overflew the lake and noticed the water appeared to be “glassy” in sections. During touchdown, the airplane landed hard, which resulted in substantial damage to its wings and fuselage. The airplane came to rest, partially submerged, in the lake. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N656B](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N656B), registered now, S/N 3199, built 2013 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC A-1C-200 - Registry model: [Aviat A-1C-200](https://openairdocs.org/model/aviat-a-1c-200) (registry code 2210411) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming IO-360-A1D6](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-io-360-a1d6) (registry code 41822, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 3199 - Year built: 2013 - Airframe hours: 354.8 - Engines: LYCOMING IO-360-A1D6 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Hoffman Aircraft Sales Corp - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, November 21, 2025, 20 hours before - Departed: FD04, Ocala, FL - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: N/A - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic primary flight display, ADS-B, Stall warning system ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 69; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: basicmed, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 27, 2024; seat: front; restraint: 5-point; flight hours: 3,238 total, 51.7 in this make and model, 3,109 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 2.7 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 41 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: GNV, 15 nm away - METAR: METAR KGNV 202153Z 11005KT 10SM CLR 21/05 A3015 RMK AO2 SLP211 T02060050 ## 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 20251220019159A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20251220019159A), Dec 20, 2025: Aviat Aircraft Inc A-1C-200, Hawthorne, FL, Substantial damage. Pilot departed airport FD04 at approximately 4:28 pm local time. Aircraft departed southeast toward lake weir. At lake weir turn aircraft northward toward red… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 21, 2026, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=202199. 38.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 37.2 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19743666&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA26LA075%20Pilot%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Mor pilot statement (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 64 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19746198&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR%20FAA%20Pilot%20Statement-Rel.pdf - Investigation photo array (item 3, PDF, 5 pages, 4 photos, 1.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=19742134&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA26LA075%20Photo%20Array_Releasable-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.