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GAA17CA332

2017-05-24 · Elfin Cove, Alaska, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport ELV

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s failure to recognize the magnitude of the swell size during landing, which resulted in a tail-low hard water landing.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the float-equipped airplane reported that, during a water landing, he "misread the size of the swell". He added that, immediately after touchdown the airplane jumped a swell, which resulted in a tail low hard landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot of the float-equipped airplane reported that, during a water landing, he "misread the size of the swell." He added that, immediately after touchdown. the airplane jumped a swell, which resulted in a tail-low hard landing. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported that there were 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-Info processing/decision-Identification/recognition-Pilot - C
  • C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface-Choppy surface-Effect on operation - C

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2017_GAA17CA332.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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