This August 2007 accident report is provided by the National Transportation Safety Board. Published as an educational tool, it is intended to help pilots learn from the misfortunes of others.
Aircraft: Cessna 206.
Location: Lovell, Maine.
Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Serious, 1 Minor.
Aircraft damage: Destroyed.
What reportedly happened: The amphibious floatplane flew to a lake for a sightseeing flight. The pilot intended to do a water landing. The airplane was equipped with an amphibious landing gear position advisory system. The aural announcements were “gear is up for water landing” and “gear is down for runway landing.” The advisories can be canceled by pressing an amber annunciator light. According to the passengers, as they approached the water, they recalled hearing a male voice speaking. They were not sure what it meant, but then they saw the pilot push a button. The landing gear was in the extended position during landing. When the airplane touched down on the water, the airplane bounced and immediately nosed over inverted, killing the pilot.
Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to retract the amphibious floatplane’s landing gear during a water landing.
