What happened
On 28 August 2001, a Denney Kitfox MK3, registration G-BUNM, departed from Inverness airfield as part of a private flight. The pilot intended to test the performance of the amphibious aircraft by climbing with the landing gear in the extended position. After flying along the Beauly Firth, west of Inverness, the pilot decided to perform a landing on the water. The weather conditions were favorable, characterized by good visibility and a light wind.
During the landing approach, the pilot turned the aircraft into the wind. However, as the aircraft entered the flare, the front wheels—which remained extended—struck the water. This impact caused the aircraft to pitch forward, leading to a slow inversion. As the aircraft capsized, water began to enter the cabin.
The investigation
The investigation was based on the aircraft accident report submitted by the pilot. It was established that the pilot and the passenger were able to evacuate the aircraft before it became fully submerged. Both individuals successfully stood on the inverted floats of the aircraft. The occupants were rescued by an inshore lifeboat from a nearby station within eight minutes of the incident. There were no injuries to the crew or the passenger, though the aircraft sustained minor damage to the wing fabric and water rudder, along with water damage to the electrical system.
Findings
- The primary cause of the inversion was that the landing gear had not been retracted prior to the water landing.
- The pilot initially believed the aircraft had struck an underwater object, only realizing the configuration error once the aircraft had inverted and they were standing on the floats.