Amateur-built BUCCANEER BIIB accident near Sopchoppy, Florida, August 19, 2023
On August 19, 2023, a 2019 amateur-built BUCCANEER BIIB, registered N1206J, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Sopchoppy, Florida. 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 improper recovery from a bounced landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made November 2, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 19, 2023 · cases in 2023
- Place
- Sopchoppy, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built BUCCANEER BIIB, built 2019
- Registration
- N1206J · registry record · serial BIIBK005
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The non-certificated pilot was attempting to land the amphibious airplane on a river. During the landing attempt the airplane bounced, and during the second touchdown the airplane pitched nose down and ultimately nosed over into the water. The airplane subsequently “broke apart” and sank in the river, resulting in substantial damage to the airframe. In his initial statement to local law enforcement, the pilot did not state that there were any preimpact mechanical anomalies with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. He did not respond to subsequent requests for clarifying information.
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
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
Pilot
- Medical certificate: None
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
- Maximum gross weight: 1,300 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 582 (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: dusk
- Wind: from 160° at 10 knots
- Sky: scat at 1,500 ft
- Temperature: 90°F (32°C), dew point 75°F (24°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 7:53 pm from TLH, 20 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KTLH 182353Z 16007KT 10SM FEW050 SCT150 32/24 A2990 RMK AO2 SLP124 TCU DSNT SE T03170239 10367 20317 55002=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 2 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
The NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on July 18, 2024. 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 | Police Report | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Memo for Record_attempted Pilot/owner Contact | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigative Photographs | PDF, 3 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Connections how this case links to the rest of the register
- N1206J on the register today · the tail number may have moved to another aircraft since
- Engine: Rotax 582 62 aircraft carry this series today · as the NTSB recorded it
- Accidents and incidents in Florida 6,111 since 1982 · 985 in the last ten years
- Florida 21,699 aircraft registered
The whole map of how records connect · these connections as data: /graph/accident/ERA23LA390.json.
The bigger picture in Aviation Analytics: accidents over time since 1982, by model, by phase of flight and conditions, by place and on the map.
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 does not name anyone involved, its policy at this time. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.