Cessna A185 N14ED accident near Miami, Florida

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to retract the wheels of the amphibious airplane on takeoff, which resulted in a nose-over when the airplane landed on water with the wheels extended. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s failure to use appropriate checklists.

NTSB analysis

According to the pilot, he inadvertently failed to retract the wheels of the amphibious airplane after takeoff from a hard surface runway. Upon arrival at his destination, he did not use the Before Landing checklist, and when the airplane touched down on the water with the wheels extended, it nosed over.

The amphibious airplane sustained substantial damage to the right wing lift strut, the empennage, the right wing aileron, the rudder, and the elevator.

The pilot asserted that the accident was pilot error and that the accident could have been prevented if he had he used the checklist.

The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the amphibious airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA18CA388 for the full record.