Yowell MALLARD II N463AT

Summary

On 29 June 2008 at about 15:45 local time, a Yowell MALLARD II registered N463AT was involved in an accident near Groveland, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

29 June 2008 at 15:45

Classification

Accident

Location

Groveland, Florida, United States

Coordinates

28.5978, -81.8006

Aircraft

Yowell MALLARD II

Registration

N463AT

Category

Airplane

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Minneola → Groveland

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

NYC08CA232

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to use the checklist and his failure to retract the landing gear for a water landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's diverted attention.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot/owner and the pilot-rated passenger departed in the amateur-built amphibious Mallard II from the land-based airport in order to practice water landings on a nearby lake. The purpose of the flight was to provide the passenger with experience that would assist him in making a decision about purchasing a similar airplane. The passenger was seated in the left seat, and the pilot was seated in the right seat of the dual-control airplane. The pilot reported that the airplane's tail lifted excessively when takeoff power was applied, and that this, combined with an unrelated problem with the headsets, distracted the two occupants during the 3-minute flight to the lake. As the airplane approached for the first landing on the lake, the pilot discussed the descent, power settings, wind conditions, and airspeeds with the passenger. However, neither the pilot nor the passenger who was manipulating the controls used any pre-landing or landing checklists, and they neglected to retract the landing gear for the water landing. When the landing gear contacted the lake surface, the airplane nosed over inverted, which substantially damaged the fuselage and wing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.