Cessna A185F N61323 accident near Kent, Washington

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to properly configure the amphibious landing gear for a water landing, which resulted in a touchdown on the water with the wheels extended, noseover, and airplane submersion.

NTSB analysis

The pilot had been storing his amphibious float-equipped airplane at a nearby airport for about 7 weeks and was returning the airplane to his lakefront home less than 3 nautical miles (nm) away, intending to moor the airplane to serve as a photo backdrop for a private event the same day. Area weather at the time of the accident included light rain but met visual flight rules (VFR) criteria. On the morning of the accident, a pilot (and guest of honor of the event) told the accident pilot not to worry about flying the airplane over, given the rainy weather, but the accident pilot expressed no concern. Witnesses who watched the airplane depart reported that its landing gear was not retracted before they lost sight of it.

As the airplane made its landing approach to the lake, witnesses observed that the landing gear was in the extended position and reported that the airplane “flipped” as soon as the floats began to contact the water. They reported that the airplane’s approach otherwise appeared normal.

Postaccident examination of the airplane revealed that the landing gear was extended at the time of touchdown and that the landing gear selector handle was in the “down” position. Although foreign objects (loose tools) were found in the engine cowling and left nosewheel gear well, their locations before the accident sequence are not known, and there was no evidence of any preimpact interference with the engine operation or landing gear mechanism. (An open bin of tools was found in the cabin.) Examination of the airplane and testing of the airplane’s landing gear position advisory unit revealed no mechanical malfunction or failure that would have precluded normal operation.

Based on the evidence, the pilot left the landing gear in the extended position before the water landing.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for WPR24FA285 for the full record.