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WPR24LA303

2024-08-30 · Big Bend-Gold Bar, Washington, United States · None · 1 aircraft · Status: Completed

Airport NONE

Aircraft involved

Probable cause & findings

The pilot’s improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing.

Factual narrative

The pilot of the amphibious airplane reported that during the approach to a lake over glassy water, he misjudged the height of the airplane above the water’s surface. He reported that he “had no sense of depth perception” and the airplane impacted the water when he thought it was about 10 ft above the surface. The pilot chose to set the airplane on the water surface to avoid departing with possible damage. However, the airplane handed hard and the float struts collapsed, which resulted in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot reported 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.

  • — Aircraft-Aircraft oper/perf/capability-Performance/control parameters-Landing flare-Not attained/maintained
  • — Personnel issues-Task performance-Use of equip/info-Aircraft control-Pilot
  • — Personnel issues-Action/decision-Info processing/decision-Decision making/judgment-Pilot
  • — Aircraft-Aircraft systems-Landing gear system-Wheel/ski/float-Capability exceeded
  • — Environmental issues-Conditions/weather/phenomena-(general)-(general)-Effect on personnel
  • — Personnel issues-Psychological-Perception/orientation/illusion-Visual illusion/disorientation-Pilot

Verbatim from NTSB's published report. Source file NTSB_2024_WPR24LA303.txt. Findings + structured fields enriched from FAA avall.mdb. Full investigation docket on data.ntsb.gov ↗.

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