CircumFlightN5023L accident
NTSB ERA21LA078 · 2020-12-15 · Orlando, FL
Docket — crew, injuries and powerplant
Factual narrative
The pilot of the amphibious airplane departed the lake with a passenger, landed at a nearby airport where he deplaned the passenger, and was returning to the lake for landing. When the pilot reached the lake, he noted that it was hard to judge the airplane’s distance above the calm, glassy water while landing into the direction of the setting sun. Following the landing flare, the airplane “floated” a considerable distance before bouncing multiple times. The pilot then concluded he could neither complete the landing nor abort the landing before striking structures or other obstacles on the shore and deliberately nosed the airplane into the water to arrest its forward progress. As a result, the airplane’s fuselage and right wing were substantially damaged. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Probable cause
The pilot’s improper recovery from a bounced landing. The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this accident.
Circumstances
- Event type
- Accident
- Highest injury
- Minor
- Weather conditions
- Visual Meteorological Cond
- Light condition
- Day
- Sky condition
- NONE
- Ceiling (ft)
- 0
- Wind direction
- 0
- Temperature (F)
- 75
- Nearest airport
- Lake
- Distance from field
- 0.0
- Airport elevation
- 70
Aircraft
| Registration | Make | Model | Damage | FAR part |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| N5023L | — | — | SUBS | 091 |
Sequence of events
| # | Occurrence | Phase |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | Landing-flare/touchdown Abnormal runway contact defining | Cruise |