Pilot Debrief

Cessna A185 near Miami, FL — 2018-07-01

Final reportGAA18CA388
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Date
2018-07-01
Location
Miami, FL, USA
Airport
X44
Aircraft
Cessna A185
Registration
N14ED
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Minor
Fatalities
0

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 narrative

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.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

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  • 2 docket documents
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Docket documents2

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