Amphibious Float Plane Nosed Over After Water Landing (N9360N)

What happened

The aircraft nosed over immediately upon landing on the water surface. A discrepancy emerged regarding the position of the landing gear at the moment of touchdown. The pilot stated that the wheels had been retracted prior to contact with the water. In contrast, the passenger reported seeing all four wheels extended when the aircraft touched down.

The investigation

Upon recovery from the water, a physical inspection confirmed that all wheels were in the down position. A post-accident operational check revealed that the landing gear mechanism functioned properly and remained locked in the up position during testing.

Findings

The immediate cause was the nose-over following the water landing. The conflicting accounts of gear position versus the mechanical verification suggest a complex interaction between pilot input, visual confirmation, and mechanical status at impact.