No fatalities

27 Mar 2014: AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC A 1B — Douglas Zeiger — Dadeville, AL

Dadeville, AL, United States

On 27 Mar 2014, an AVIAT AIRCRAFT INC A 1B operated by Douglas Zeiger was involved in an aviation accident near Dadeville, AL. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to obtain the proper touchdown point while landing on a lake with a tailwind. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 1778583330Data APIEditorial standards

An amphibian airplane nosed over and came to rest in a lake after the pilot attempted a tailwind landing and reduced power during a go-around.

Incident Overview

An amphibian airplane sustained substantial damage after nosing over into a lake during a landing attempt. The pilot reported that the accident occurred while trying to land with a tailwind. The airplane floated beyond the intended touchdown point and approached the shoreline before the pilot initiated a go-around, which was later aborted.

Pilot Actions

According to the pilot, he circled the landing zone once and confirmed the water was clear of debris. During the landing flare, the airplane drifted past the planned landing spot and neared the shore. The pilot initially added power to perform a go-around but subsequently reduced power, believing the airplane would not clear nearby trees. Shortly after, the airplane nosed over and came to rest inverted in the water.

Damage Assessment

Examination by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The landing gear was found retracted into the floats. The pilot stated there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.

Contributing factors

Causes

PilotDescent/approach/glide path — Not attained/maintained

Other contributing factors

Effect on operation