Aviat Aircraft INC A 1B accident near Dadeville, Alabama, March 27, 2014
On March 27, 2014 at about 10:30 pm local time, a 2000 Aviat Aircraft INC A 1B, registered N59AW, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Dadeville, Alabama. 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).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to obtain the proper touchdown point while landing on a lake with a tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- March 27, 2014 · about 10:30 pm local time
- Place
- Dadeville, Alabama · 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, built 2000 · all A 1Bs on the register
- Registration
- N59AW · no longer on the register · serial 2058
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the amphibian airplane reported that he was attempting to land on a lake with a tailwind. He circled the landing zone once and verified that there was no debris in the water. During the landing flare, the airplane floated beyond the intended touchdown point and was nearing the shore. The pilot initially added power to go-around, but then reduced power when he did not think the airplane would clear the trees near the shoreline. The airplane subsequently nosed over and came to rest in the water. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed substantial damage to both wings and the fuselage. The landing gear was retracted into the floats. The pilot added that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions with the airplane.
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
- Landing area overshoot during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing
The NTSB's findings
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Descent/approach/glide path › Not attained/maintained
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 247 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 63 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 186 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 11, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: frt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 608 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 3, 2014; 28 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 2,200 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Lycoming O-360 (piston); 608 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: AL71 Our Town AL at 10:20 pm
- Destination: Dadeville AL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 7 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 28°F (-2°C)
- Altimeter: 30.12 inHg
- Observation at 10:15 pm from ALX, 9 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
5 documents, released by the NTSB on April 23, 2014. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Map of Accident Site | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Weather Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 1 – Wing Damage (Photo Courtesy of FAA) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 5 | Interview Summary | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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.