Aviat A1 accident near Garrison, Minnesota, June 14, 2009
On June 14, 2009 at about 3:30 pm local time, a Aviat A1, registered N190BA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Garrison, Minnesota (Camp Lake airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper flare, which resulted in a hard landing on the water and subsequent loss of control.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 14, 2009 · about 3:30 pm local time
- Place
- Garrison, Minnesota · Camp Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aviat A1 A
- Registration
- N190BA · registry record · serial 1447
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that he attempted to land the float-equipped airplane on a lake with “glassy water” conditions. He made an approach to the lake where he could use the shoreline as a reference, and where some ripples on the surface of the lake made it possible for him to attempt a normal water landing. He reported that he “apparently” flew over the ripples. The nose of the right float hit the water first and the airplane started to porpoise. He pulled the nose up and added power to perform a go-around. He reported, “I believe the impact broke the right hand flying wires as the left wing dropped and that combined with the “P” factor turned the aircraft about 60 degrees to the left.” The airplane was approaching the shoreline so he cut the power. The airplane landed on the water and slid up the embankment with both wings impacting trees.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Hard landing during landing defining event
- Attempted remediation/recovery during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll)
- Ground collision during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Incorrect use/operation
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › (general) › Effect on operation
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surfa › Glassy › Effect on operation
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 2,800 hours in all; 400 in this make and model; 30 in the last 90 days; 10 in the last 30 days; 2,675 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 2
The aircraft
- Last inspection: type not recorded, June 1, 2009
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: ANE Blaine MN at 2:45 pm
- Destination: Garrison MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Temperature: 0°F (-18°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.