Probable cause
The pilot's failure to retract the landing gear before a water landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's failure to use a checklist.
NTSB analysis
The pilot reported that he landed the float-equipped airplane and it nosed over. He said that he had taken off from a paved runway earlier and forgot to retract the wheels for the water landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the wings. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical anomalies with the airplane and the accident could have been prevented if he had used the checklist.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for CEN11CA518 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jul 24, 2011
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Oscoda, Michigan
- Nearest airport
- Oscoda-Wurtsmith (OSC)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Cessna 180D
- N-number
- N6425X
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.