- Date
- December 30, 2005, 16:40 local (22:40 UTC)
- Place
- Alexander City, AL
- Injuries
- 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N841CFAviat A-1B
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report March 28, 2006
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- FAA report
- 20051230029709A
- Case key
- 63077
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The failure of the pilot-in-command to maintain the proper rate of descent during approach for landing to the glassy water resulting in a hard landing and separation of the floats.
Sequence of events
NTSB’s coding before 2008: each occurrence and phase of flight, and the causes and factors under it. The codes are defined in NTSB’s coding manual.
Analysis
The pilot stated that after takeoff the flight proceeded to the destination airport which he circled several times then elected to proceed to Lake Martin where he elected to perform a "splash and go" landing. When near the lake he noticed glassy water conditions and established himself on a long gradual descent. During the approach he reviewed the glassy water landing procedures in his mind and maintained 150-200 feet-per-minute rate of descent. At a time in the flight when he thought the airplane, "should have touched down by now...", he heard a loud sound and the airplane became airborne. The floats departed the airplane and he applied full power to climb, but the airplane would not climb. While in a tail-low attitude the airplane contacted the water. He exited the airplane and was rescued by an individual in a boat who responded to the scene. He further stated there was no mechanical malfunction or failure.
Factual narrative
On December 30, 2005, about 1640 central standard time, an amphibious Aviat Aircraft, Inc., A-1B, N841CF, registered to HuskyAire, LLC, experienced a hard landing on Lake Martin, Alexander City, Alabama. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight from Lake Dewitt, Equality, Alabama, to Willow Point Airport, Our Town, Alabama. The airplane was substantially damaged and the private-rated pilot, the sole occupant was not injured. The flight originated about 1625 from Lake Dewitt.
The pilot stated that after takeoff the flight proceeded to the destination airport which he circled several times then elected to proceed to Lake Martin where he elected to perform a "splash and go" landing. When near the lake he noticed glassy water conditions and established himself on a long gradual descent. During the approach he reviewed the glassy water landing procedures in his mind and maintained 150-200 feet-per-minute rate of descent. At a time in the flight when he thought the airplane, "should have touched down by now...", he heard a loud sound and the airplane became airborne. The floats departed the airplane and he applied full power to climb, but the airplane would not climb. While in a tail-low attitude the airplane contacted the water. He exited the airplane and was rescued by an individual in a boat who responded to the scene. He further stated there was no mechanical malfunction or failure.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N841CF
- Reported as
- Aviat A-1B
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 2152
- Engine
- Lycoming O-360-A1P, 180 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Registered owner
- HuskyAire, LLC
- Airworthiness certificate
- Standard, Normal
- Departed
- Equality, AL
- Destination
- AL71 · Our Town, AL
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 56
- Certificates
- Commercial, Private
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Airplane
- Medical
- Class 2
- Flight hours
- 4,380 total · 71 in this make and model · 95 in the last 90 days · 20 in the last 30 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.