Amateur-built Volmer Amphibian B accident near Nauvoo, Illinois, July 2, 2005
On July 2, 2005 at about 8:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Volmer Amphibian B, registered N47111, was substantially damaged in an accident near Nauvoo, Illinois. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain appropriate airspeed during landing, which resulted in a stall/mush condition and hard landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 2, 2005 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Nauvoo, Illinois · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Volmer Amphibian B
- Registration
- N47111 · no longer on the register · serial 65
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
While attempting a water landing, the amphibian airplane impacted the water in a nose-low attitude and nosed over into the water after a second impact with the water. The pilot reported that the airplane impacted the wake of a speedboat that had crossed beneath the airplane during final approach. The passenger reported that the pilot told him that he "stalled the airplane" during landing. The passenger's daughter recorded the accident on videotape. A review of the videotape showed the airplane making a low altitude, level turn toward video camera. The recorded engine noise was consistent with an idle engine power setting. The airplane transitioned to a nose-down attitude and impacted the water. The recorded engine noise increased after the airplane transitioned to the nose low attitude. The airplane bounced off the water and nosed over after a second impact with the water. There was no evidence of a speedboat or rough water around the accident airplane during the accident sequence.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 6,313 hours in all; 350 in this make and model; 75 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 6,313 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 1, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,060 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 1, 2005; 75 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,800 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Lycoming O-290-G4 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Nauvoo IL at 7:45 pm
- Destination: Nauvoo IL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 59°F (15°C)
- Altimeter: 29.96 inHg
- Observation at 7:55 pm from EOK, 6 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.
Other NTSB records under N47111 the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.