Aviat A1B N990HP accident near Guntersville, Alabama

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to retract the amphibious airplane's landing gear wheels prior to a water landing, which resulted in a nose over.

NTSB analysis

The pilot of the amphibious float equipped airplane reported that while landing on the water, he experienced a very hard, violent landing with a nose down pitch attitude and the airplane nosed over. He further reported that, prior to the landing on the water, he had previously departed a land-based airport and while on final approach to the lake for landing, he was distracted by a boat in the area and did not verify that the landing gear was retracted for a water landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and right-wing lift struts. The pilot also reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA20CA187 for the full record.