Robb Aviation LLC AVENTURA II accident near Elmore, Alabama, April 13, 2025
On April 13, 2025 at about 11:40 pm local time, a 2005 Robb Aviation LLC AVENTURA II, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N744RA, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Elmore, Alabama. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to configure the airplane for a water landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 13, 2025 · about 11:40 pm local time
- Place
- Elmore, Alabama · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Robb Aviation LLC AVENTURA II NO SERIES, built 2005, amateur-built
- Registration
- N744RA · registry record · serial AA2A0122
- 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 amphibious airplane departed on a personal flight and performed several water landings on a lake. Upon leaving the area of the lake for the return flight to the departure airport, he lowered the landing gear (deviating from his standard procedure of lowering the landing gear while in the airport traffic pattern). Upon reaching the airport, and realizing there was still daylight remaining, he elected to perform one more water landing on a nearby river. Approaching the river, he lowered the flaps but neglected to verify the correct position of the landing gear and touched down on water with the landing gear extended. After touchdown the airplane nosed down and came to an abrupt stop resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The pilot stated that there was no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures or of 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 (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Incorrect use/operation
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 739 hours in all; 113 in this make and model; 28 in the last 90 days; 13 in the last 30 days; 657 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: October 14, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 234 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, February 26, 2025; 16 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,430 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 275 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 08A Wetumpka AL at 10:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 70°F (21°C), dew point 43°F (6°C)
- Altimeter: 30.05 inHg
- Observation at 6:55 pm from KMXF, 7 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KMXF 132355Z AUTO 00000KT 10SM CLR 21/06 A3005 RMK AO2 SLP178 T02120059 10241 20206 55005 FZRANO $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
3 documents, released by the NTSB on November 6, 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 | Record of NTSB Conversation | PDF, 2 pages | View Download |
| 3 | Release of Aircraft Wreckage, NTSB Form 6120.15 | 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.