Pilot Debrief

Cessna A185 near Whittier, AK — 2019-05-21

Final reportWPR19FA152
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Date
2019-05-21
Location
Whittier, AK, USA
Aircraft
Cessna A185
Registration
N5457X
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
1
Phase of flight
Approach

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to configure the landing gear for a water landing, which resulted in a nose-over. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's distraction due to his talking passengers.

Contributing factors

Contributing to the accident was the pilot's distraction due to his talking passengers.

NTSB narrative

Shortly after landing on water, the amphibious airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted. The passenger in the front right seat drowned following the accident, likely as a result of being incapacitated by head injuries sustained during the impact. The landing gear were found extended and the landing gear selector was found in the "down" position. The airplane was equipped with a visual landing gear indicator as well as an audio annunciator that was designed to provide a reminder of the gear position to the pilot once the airplane had slowed to its landing approach speed. During the nearly 7 years that the pilot had owned the airplane, the landing gear annunciator system had been out of adjustment and did not give an audible alert until after landing. The pilot was aware of the discrepancy but did not have the system repaired or adjusted. The circumstances of the accident are consistent with the pilot's failure to configure the landing gear for the water landing. The pilot stated that he was likely distracted by both passengers, who were talking throughout the flight, including during the descent, and landing approach. It is likely that his distraction due to the talking passengers contributed to his failure to configure the gear and to recognize that it was not configured properly before landing.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Human factors
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have refrained from conversation to focus on landing gear status.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Photos
  • 8 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents8

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