# NTSB GAA19CA108: De Havilland DHC 2, N501J, Hollister, CA, May 28, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 28, 2019, 15:30 local (22:30 UTC) - Place: Hollister, CA - Coordinates: 37.038055, -121.118057 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.0381&lon=-121.1181&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: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report April 13, 2020 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 98901 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA19CA108 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98901/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98901 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA19CA108 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to retract the amphibious float's landing gear wheels before landing on the water. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to use the after takeoff and before landing checklists. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: configuration](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062017): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062017/cases.md?model=2808001), [All aircraft, 80 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062017/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: [Dehavilland DHC-2, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=2808001), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Terrain: water](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020/cases.md?model=2808001), [All aircraft, 97 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: use of checklist](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063030/cases.md?model=2808001), [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-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Dehavilland DHC-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=2808001), [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: [Dehavilland DHC-2, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=2808001), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot in the amphibious float-equipped airplane reported that he intended to perform a water landing. On the downwind leg of the approach, he performed his prelanding checks from memory, and he confirmed that the three green landing gear safe lights were illuminated. However, he added that he "should have looked for blue lights." The pilot landed on the water with the landing gear wheels extended, and the airplane pitched forward and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, the empennage, and the windscreen. The pilot asserted that he "should have used a checklist once airborne. Both the after takeoff and before landing checks would have saved me from this event." The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot in the amphibious float-equipped airplane reported that his intent was to perform a water landing. On the downwind leg of the approach, he performed his prelanding checks from memory and he confirmed that the three green landing gear safe lights were illuminated. However, "I should have looked for blue lights." The pilot landed on the water with the landing gear wheels extended and the airplane pitched forward and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing, the empennage, and the windscreen. The pilot asserted that, "I should have used a checklist once airborne. Both the after takeoff and before landing checks would have saved me from this event." The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N501J](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N501J), registered now, S/N 1451 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: De Havilland DHC 2 (I) - Registry model: [Dehavilland DHC-2](https://openairdocs.org/model/dehavilland-dhc-2) (registry code 2808001) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1451 - Year built: 2004 - Airframe hours: 4690 - Engines: PRATT & WHITNEY R-985 AN-14B 450 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Diesel Acquisitions Llc - Registered owner: Diesel Acquisitions Llc - Airworthiness certificate: Unknown - Last inspection: Annual, June 19, 2018 - Departed: CVH, Hollister, CA - Destination: CVH, Hollister, CA - Equipment: Auto-pilot, Electronic flight bag or handheld device, ADS-B ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: none; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review May 7, 2019; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 15,560 total, 111 in this make and model, 11,326 as pilot in command, 37 in the last 90 days, 9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 260° at 15 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 55 °F - Altimeter: 29.96 inHg - Observed at: CVH, 17 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 20190528005359A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190528005359A), May 28, 2019: Dehavilland DHC-2, Los Banos, CA, Destroyed. On may 28, 2019, at approximately 1500, N501J a Dehavilland (DHC-2) attempted to land on the San Luis Resevoir and upon touching down on the water surface the… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 4, 2019, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98901. 5.3 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 5.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475409&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Memorandum for Record (item 2, .PDF, 142 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475410&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record-Master.PDF - Photo (item 3, .PDF, 158 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40475411&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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. --- 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.