Aviat A-1B N71JA

Summary

On 26 May 2017 at about 15:25 local time, a Aviat A-1B registered N71JA was involved in an accident near Tomahawk Lake, Wisconsin, United States. One person was on board and one had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

26 May 2017 at 15:25

Classification

Accident

Location

Tomahawk Lake, Wisconsin, United States

Coordinates

45.8328, -89.6514

Aircraft

Aviat A-1B

Registration

N71JA

Category

Airplane

Year built

2004

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Rhinelander → Tomahawk Lake

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

CEN17LA204

1 person had minor injuries.

The pilot's failure to maintain a proper approach path, which resulted in the airplane’s hard landing and nose over after the water landing.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot was conducting a personal flight in the float-equipped airplane and was landing on a lake with the wheels and water rudders up. The pilot stated that the winds were calm to 6 knots and that the water surface exhibited some minor ripples. The landing was made toward the northwest, with the flaps retracted, at a landing speed of 70-80 mph. The pilot did not recall the touchdown. A witness reported seeing the airplane come within 5 ft of the lake surface, then climb to 15 ft above the lake before it descended and touched down on the lake. The witness stated that the airplane nosed over shortly after it touched down. The airplane sustained substantial damage to both wings and the support struts. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane during the flight. Based on available weather data, the pilot likely landed with a 3-4 kt tailwind. However, the pilot should have been able to adequately respond to the slight tailwind during landing. Given the available information, the pilot likely did not maintain a proper approach path, which resulted in the airplane's hard landing and nose over.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.