Amateur-built AQUA-BEE accident near Miami, Florida, February 25, 2025
On February 25, 2025 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 2020 amateur-built AQUA-BEE, registered N799RX, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing near Miami, Florida (Miami Exec airport). It was a flight test 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 failure to lower the landing gear before touchdown.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- February 25, 2025 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Miami, Florida · Miami Exec · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built AQUA-BEE, built 2020
- Registration
- N799RX · registry record · serial 1981
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Flight test · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
At the conclusion of the local test flight of the experimental amateur-built amphibious airplane, the pilot arrived back in the airport traffic pattern for landing. After receiving clearance to land, he arrived over the runway, reduced power and flared for landing, realizing that he had not extended the landing gear when he heard the hull contact the runway. The airplane skidded to a stop resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage/hull. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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 gear not configured during landing defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Main landing gear › Not used/operated
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot, flight engineer
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: unmanned (suas)
- Flight time: 27,394 hours in all; 157 in this make and model; 2 in the last 90 days; 2 in the last 30 days; 4,380 as pilot in command; 3,211 on instruments
- Last flight review: January 15, 2025
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 157 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, January 15, 2024; 120 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 3,800 lb
- Seats: 4
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Chevrolet LS6 (piston); 157 hours total
The flight
- Flight plan: VFR
- Runway 09L/, 5,003 ft by 150 ft
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 140° at 13 knots, gusting 24
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 11,000 ft
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 29.89 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from OPF
Weather report (METAR): KOPF 241853Z 14013G24KT 10SM -RA BKN110 22/17 A2989 RMK AO2 PK WND 13027/1840 RAB47 SLP122 P0000 T02170167
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Pre accident view of airplane.
Photograph 2 – View of airplane on runway with landing gear up.
Photograph 3 – View of damaged fuselage.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 May 9, 2025. 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, 10 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Initial Pilot's Statement | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Investigation Photographs | PDF, 4 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.
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.