# NTSB MIA06CA043: Aviat A-1B, N841CF, Alexander City, AL, December 30, 2005 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: December 30, 2005, 16:40 local (22:40 UTC) - Place: Alexander City, AL - Coordinates: 32.904167, -85.893608 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.9042&lon=-85.8936&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report March 28, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 63077 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA06CA043 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63077/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA06CA043 ## 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 In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Hard landing, landing - flare/touchdown - proper descent rate - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - terrain condition - water,glassy ## 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 (not matched to a registry record) - Reported make and model: Aviat A-1B - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 2152 - Engines: 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. - Pilot; age 56; 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 (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20051230029709A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20051230029709A), Dec 30, 2005: Aviat A1B, Lake Martin, AL, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot in command set up for "glassy water" approach and landing at dusk on large lake. Pilot statement indicates that he had difficulty in determining… 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.