No fatalities

Amphibious Floatplane Noses Over During Lake Touch and Go

Hayden Lake, ID, United States

On June 26, 2016, a CESSNA A185 F was involved in an aviation accident near Hayden Lake, ID. No fatalities were reported. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to retract the amphibious airplane's land-wheels prior to landing on a lake, which resulted in a nose over. This summary draws on records from NTSB; 12 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.

SourcesNTSBPrimary reportUpdated 2026-08-03Data APIEditorial standards

A pilot of an amphibious float-equipped airplane reported that the aircraft nosed over during a touch-and-go landing on a lake. The landing gear were down for the water landing, and the pilot did not visually check their position beforehand.

Accident Details

The pilot of an amphibious float-equipped airplane reported departing from an airport with a paved runway, en route to a destination airport about 21 nautical miles away, also with a paved runway. While en route, the pilot decided to perform a touch-and-go landing on a lake approximately 5 nautical miles from the destination airport.

Landing and Nose-Over

During the landing touchdown on the lake, the airplane immediately nosed over. The pilot stated that he did not visually check the position of the landing gear using the landing gear mirrors before the landing, and that the landing gear were down for the water landing.

Damage and Mechanical Status

The firewall sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported that he was unsure if there were any mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

Contributing factors

Incorrect use/operationPilot

Frequently asked questions

What happened in the 26 Jun 2016 CESSNA A185 F accident near Hayden Lake, ID?

A pilot of an amphibious float-equipped airplane reported that the aircraft nosed over during a touch-and-go landing on a lake. The landing gear were down for the water landing, and the pilot did not visually check their position beforehand.

Were there any fatalities in the 26 Jun 2016 CESSNA A185 F accident?

No fatalities were recorded in this accident.

What aircraft was involved and where did it happen?

The accident on 26 Jun 2016 involved a CESSNA A185 F, at Hayden Lake, ID.

What was the probable cause of the accident?

The pilot's failure to retract the amphibious airplane's land-wheels prior to landing on a lake, which resulted in a nose over.