Probable cause
The pilots’ failure to position the landing gear for landing on the water, which resulted in a nose-over.
NTSB analysis
During a landing on still, glassy water, the single-engine amphibian airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The flight instructor reported that, before landing, neither the regular airplane checklist nor his personal checklist had been used. The pilot receiving instruction, who was also the owner of the airplane, added that they were in a rush and forgot to use the checklist. A postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the left landing gear was extended and the right landing gear was partially retracted. Further examination of the airplane revealed substantial damage to the fuselage, firewall, and door frames.
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR12CA234 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- May 3, 2012
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Hayden Lake, Idaho
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Amateur-built Rebel
- N-number
- N1076D
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Instructional
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.