Yowell Mallard II accident near Groveland, Florida, June 29, 2008
On June 29, 2008 at about 3:45 pm local time, a Yowell Mallard II, registered N463AT, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Groveland, 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 failure to use the checklist and his failure to retract the landing gear for a water landing. Contributing to the accident was the pilot's diverted attention.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- June 29, 2008 · about 3:45 pm local time
- Place
- Groveland, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Yowell Mallard II
- Registration
- N463AT · no longer on the register · serial 2M002
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot/owner and the pilot-rated passenger departed in the amateur-built amphibious Mallard II from the land-based airport in order to practice water landings on a nearby lake. The purpose of the flight was to provide the passenger with experience that would assist him in making a decision about purchasing a similar airplane. The passenger was seated in the left seat, and the pilot was seated in the right seat of the dual-control airplane. The pilot reported that the airplane's tail lifted excessively when takeoff power was applied, and that this, combined with an unrelated problem with the headsets, distracted the two occupants during the 3-minute flight to the lake. As the airplane approached for the first landing on the lake, the pilot discussed the descent, power settings, wind conditions, and airspeeds with the passenger. However, neither the pilot nor the passenger who was manipulating the controls used any pre-landing or landing checklists, and they neglected to retract the landing gear for the water landing. When the landing gear contacted the lake surface, the airplane nosed over inverted, which substantially damaged the fuselage and wing.
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
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Lack of action › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of checklist › Pilot
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › (general) › Not used/operated
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 280 hours in all; 100 in this make and model
- Last flight review: April 11, 2008
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 280 hours in all; 100 in this make and model; 50 in the last 90 days; 30 in the last 30 days; 250 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 1, 2008
- Medical certificate: Sport Pilot
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 900 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 1,430 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rotax 912S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 3FD4 Minneola FL at 3:40 pm
- Destination: NONE Groveland FL
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 240° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 30.20 inHg
- Observation at 3:53 pm from LEE, 17 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
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.
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.