Probable cause
The pilot’s attempt to land on water in an airplane that was not equipped with floats.
NTSB analysis
The pilot was flying an airplane equipped with tundra tires. He reported that, while landing the airplane on water, he realized that he "was still on [the] wheels"; it was not equipped with floats. Water entered the flight deck, the pilot egressed, and the airplane sank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the windscreen. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for GAA19CA343 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Jun 11, 2019
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Soldatna, Alaska
- Nearest airport
- Mackeys Lakes (L85)
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Maule MX7
- N-number
- N61339
- Category
- Airplane
- Year built
- 1994
- 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.