# NTSB GAA16CA375: Cessna A185, N185TG, Hayden Lake, ID, June 26, 2016

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: June 26, 2016, 13:00 local (19:00 UTC)
- Place: Hayden Lake, ID
- Coordinates: 47.758888, -116.745277 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.7589&lon=-116.7453&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 August 31, 2016
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents
- Parties: FAA
- NTSB case key (mKey): 93602
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA16CA375
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/93602/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93602
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA16CA375

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to retract the amphibious airplane's land-wheels prior to landing on a lake, which resulted in a nose over.

## 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: [Cessna A185F, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=2072821), [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: [Cessna A185F, 12 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2072821), [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: [Cessna A185F, 4 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md)
- [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot; cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 336 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/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: [Cessna A185F, 6 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 75 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md)
- [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Cessna A185F, 29 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2072821), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot of an amphibious float-equipped airplane reported that he departed from an airport with a paved runway en-route to his destination airport, about 21 nautical miles away, also with a paved runway. While en-route he decided to do a touch and go on a lake about 5 nautical miles from the destination airport. The pilot further reported that during the landing touch down, the airplane immediately nosed over. The pilot reported that he did not visually check the position of the landing gear with the landing gear mirrors before the landing and the landing gear were down for the water landing. The firewall sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that he was unsure if there were any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Factual narrative

The pilot of an amphibious float-equipped airplane reported that he departed from an airport with a paved runway en-route to his destination airport, about 21 nautical miles away, also with a paved runway. While en-route he decided to do a touch and go on a lake about 5 nautical miles from the destination airport. The pilot further reported that during the landing touch down, the airplane immediately nosed over. The pilot reported that he did not visually check the position of the landing gear with the landing gear mirrors before the landing and the landing gear were down for the water landing. The firewall sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that he was unsure if there were any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N185TG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N185TG-2018-04-18), registration cancelled 2018-04-18, S/N 18503713, built 1978 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185 (F)
- Registry model: [Cessna A185F](https://openairdocs.org/model/cessna-a185f) (registry code 2072821) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Continental IO-520 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/continental-io-520-series) (registry code 17032, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 18503713
- Year built: 1978
- Airframe hours: 3393
- Engines: Continental IO-520-D 2895 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: Annual, May 1, 2016
- Departed: SFF, SPOKANE, WA
- Destination: KCOE, Coeur d'Alene, ID
- Equipment: Electronic flight bag or handheld device, Auto-pilot, ADS-B, Stall warning system, Handheld GPS

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 75; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 8, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 3,600 total, 37 in this make and model, 3,600 as pilot in command, 10 in the last 90 days, 14 in the last 30 days

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 320° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 46 °F
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observed at: KCOE, 5 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 20160626006659A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20160626006659A), Jun 26, 2016: Cessna A185F, Hayden, ID, Substantial damage. N185TG a 1978 Cessna 185 configured with amphibious floats received substantial damage during a water landing on Hayden lake located in north Idaho. The wheels…

## Docket (4 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on August 18, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=93602. 5.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.9 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443313&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation (FAA Inspector) (item 2, .PDF, 59 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443314&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(FAA%20Inspector)-Master.PDF
- Record of Conversation (Pilot in Command) (item 3, .PDF, 60 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443315&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot%20in%20Command)-Master.PDF
- Accident Photos (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 2 photos, 250 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40443316&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Accident%20Photos%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-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.

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