Aviat Aircraft, Inc. A-1B accident near Ely, Minnesota, June 25, 2013
On June 25, 2013 at about 6:00 pm local time, a Aviat Aircraft, Inc. A-1B, registered N715SB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Ely, Minnesota (Shagawa Lake airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain control of the amphibious airplane during the water landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 25, 2013 · about 6:00 pm local time
- Place
- Ely, Minnesota · Shagawa Lake · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Aviat Aircraft, Inc. A-1B
- Registration
- N715SB · registry record · serial 2051
- 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 the accident occurred when he was making water landings in the amphibious airplane. He stated that he noted no anomalies during his first landing. He said the lake surface had “light ripples,” and the wind speed was less than 5 knots. The pilot stated that his second landing approach and touchdown were also initially uneventful; however, shortly after the airplane touched down, it began to roll and yaw toward the left, and the left wing contacted the water. The airplane came to rest partially submerged, nose-low, in the lake. An examination of the recovered wreckage revealed substantial damage to several float struts and spreader bars; however, all examined component damage was consistent with overstress, with no preexisting material defects observed. Because the damage to the amphibious float components occurred during the accident, they likely did not contribute to the initial loss of control. Therefore, given the pilot's report of light wind, the pilot should have been able to maintain airplane control throughout the water landing.
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
- Loss of control on ground during landing defining event
- Dragged wing/rotor/float/other during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › (general) › Capability exceeded
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 17,000 hours in all; 40 in this make and model; 200 in the last 90 days; 69 in the last 30 days; 15,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: May 5, 2013
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 688 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, May 16, 2013
- Maximum gross weight: 2,000 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360-A1P (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: KELO Ely MN at 5:45 pm
- Destination: KELO Ely MN
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 200° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 54°F (12°C)
- Altimeter: 29.81 inHg
- Observation at 5:52 pm from KELO, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number CEN13LA374.