Piper PA-18A-150 N7089B

Summary

On 6 September 2014 at about 17:00 local time, a Piper PA-18A-150 registered N7089B was involved in an accident near Gunthersville, Alabama, United States. One person was on board and nobody was injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

6 September 2014 at 17:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Gunthersville, Alabama, United States

Coordinates

34.3817, -86.2492

Aircraft

Piper PA-18A-150

Registration

N7089B

Category

Airplane

Year built

1956

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Guntersville → Guntersville

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA14CA431

Nobody was injured.

The pilot's failure to retract the landing gear wheels prior to a water landing, resulting in a nose over upon touchdown.

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

Read the full NTSB narrative

According to the pilot, he was performing both water and pavement touch-and-go landings in his amphibious airplane. On final approach for a water landing, he observed a jet ski come out of a slew area and his attention was drawn to it. Upon landing, "I found myself inverted." Federal Aviation Administration inspectors responded to the accident site and examined the wreckage. The landing gear and the cockpit-mounted landing gear switch were found in the down (extended) positions. A cockpit placard was installed, that stated, "DO NOT LAND ON WATER UNLESS GEAR IS FULLY RETRACTED." The pilot reported no pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.