# NTSB MIA87LA094: Cessna A185E, N2287T, Melbourne, FL, February 26, 1987

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: February 26, 1987, 10:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place: Melbourne, FL
- Coordinates: 28.079748, -80.600013 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.0797&lon=-80.6000&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report March 30, 1988
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 31861
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA87LA094
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/31861/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA87LA094

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Nose over, landing - flare/touchdown
  - landing gear,gear indicating system - improper (contributing factor)
  - maintenance,modification - not performed, company maintenance personnel (contributing factor)
  - in-flight planning/decision - poor, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - landing gear - improper use of, pilot in command(cfi) (cause)
  - lack of total experience in type of aircraft, pilot in command(cfi)
  - lack of total experience in type operation, pilot in command(cfi)

## Analysis

THE STUDENT PLT INADVERTENTLY LOWERED THE LANDING GEAR ON THE DOWNWIND LEG IN PREPARATION FOR A WATER LANDING. THE FLT THEN TURNED BASE TO FINAL, &, UPON TOUCHDOWN, THE ACFT NOSED OVER & CAME TO REST INVERTED IN THE LAKE. INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT THE LANDING GEAR INDICATOR LIGHTS HAD NOT BEEN MODIFIED WHEN THE FLOATS WERE INSTALLED. SUCH MODIFICATIONS ENTAIL CHANGING OF THE LANDING GEAR UP LIGHT FROM AMBER TO BLUE FOR WATER OPERATIONS AND FOR THE LANDING GEAR DOWN INDICATION FROM GREEN TO AMBER FOR LAND OPERATIONS.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N2287T (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: CESSNA A185E
- Category: Airplane
- Serial number: 185-1448
- Airframe hours: 1960
- Engines: CONTINENTAL IO-520-D23B 300 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Instructional, Part 91
- Registered owner: Florida Institute Of Technolo.
- Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal
- Last inspection: 100 hour, January 6, 1987, 12 hours before
- Departed: MLB, MELBOURNE, FL
- Flight plan: VFR

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 50; commercial, flight instructor, airline transport; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 1, valid medical--w/ waivers/lim; seat: right; flight hours: 5,080 total, 10 in this make and model, 4,755 as pilot in command, 130 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 160° at 12 knots
- Visibility: 6 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: 25,000 ft broken
- Temperature: 73 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MLB, 6 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 19870226003479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19870226003479A), Feb 26, 1987: Cessna A185E, Melbourne, FL, Substantial damage. The plane nosed over during a water landing. The student inadvertently lowered the gear. Instructor was in plane.

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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