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GAA16CA509

2016-09-17 · Lakeport, California, United States · Minor · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport 1O2

Current FAA registration · N111W

Make / Model
GRUMMAN G-44A
Year of manufacture
1945 · 71 years old at event
Engine
LYCOMING GO-480 SERIES (295 hp)
Seats / Engines
5 seats · 2 engines
Last airworthiness date
19551212
ADS-B equipped
Yes — Mode-S A031DE

Source: FAA Aircraft Registry (releasable master file).

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot's failure to retract the landing gear, which resulted in a gear-down water landing and a nose over.

Factual narrative

The pilot of an amphibious airplane reported that he departed a hard surfaced runway and flew to a lake about 3 nautical miles away. He further reported that after takeoff he failed to retract the landing gear and during the touchdown on the lake, the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that he did not use a checklist during the flight. The fuselage and vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot of an amphibious airplane reported that he departed a hard surfaced runway and flew to a lake about 3 nautical miles away. He further reported that after takeoff he failed to retract the landing gear and during the touchdown on the lake, the airplane nosed over. The pilot reported that he did not use a checklist during the flight. The fuselage and vertical stabilizer sustained substantial damage.  The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

FAA avdata. C = Cause, F = Factor.

  • C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Forgotten action/omission-Pilot - C
  • C Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Landing gear system-Gear extension and retract sys-Not used/operated - C
  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Use of checklist-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2016_GAA16CA509.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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