Event GAA19CA343

Factual narrative

The pilot in the tailwheel-equipped airplane with tundra tires reported that, he made an approach to the lake. He flew the approach, and landed the airplane in the water, "Only then did I realize that I was still on wheels." Water entered the flight deck and the airplane sank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the windscreen. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. The pilot was flying an airplane equipped with tundra tires. He reported that, while landing the airplane on water, he realized that he "was still on [the] wheels"; it was not equipped with floats. Water entered the flight deck, the pilot egressed, and the airplane sank. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the windscreen. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. Source: NTSB Aviation Accident Database Retrieved: 2026-02-12

NTSB Findings

Hierarchical cause / factor breakdown from the FAA bulk avdata database. Each finding tagged C (Cause) or F (Factor).

• C Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Aircraft capability-(general)-Incorrect use/operation - C
• C Environmental issues-Physical environment-Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface-Wet surface-Effect on operation - C
• C Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Expectation/assumption-Pilot - C