Wheels May Have Been Extended During Water Landing

The NTSB has issued a preliminary report in a March 18th accident in which an amphibious Maule flipped over during a water landing, killing 41-year-old Kristin Kolby, the passenger on board the airplane.  The pilot and aircraft owner, Kenneth Gedney, survived, but said he has no recollection of how he was able to get out of the aircraft and into a boat at the scene. He also says he does not recall in what position the wheels were prior to the attempted landing on the water. The Dallas Morning News reports that a boater pulled Gedney from the plane and administered CPR. Kolby was his business assistant.

NTSB Identification: CEN10FA164
14 CFR Part 91: General Aviation
Accident occurred Thursday, March 18, 2010 in Lewisville, TX
Aircraft: MAULE M-5-235C, registration: N56489
Injuries: 1 Fatal, 1 Minor.

This is preliminary information, subject to change, and may contain errors. Any errors in this report will be corrected when the final report has been completed.

On March 18, 2010, about 1600 CDT, a Maule M-5-235C airplane, N56489, was substantially damaged during a nose over while performing a water landing on Lake Lewisville near Lewisville, Texas. The pilot sustained minor injuries and the passenger was fatally injured. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 local flight. The flight departed the Addison Airport (ADS), Dallas, Texas, around 1555.

According to the pilot, as he approached for the “glassy water landing,” the airplane was performing normally. The airplane touched down “with no skips or bounces” and quickly nosed over and began to fill with water. The pilot attempted to kick the doors open, but was unable. He was unable to recall how he got out of the airplane, but remembered being in a boat. When asked about the position of the landing gear before landing, the pilot responded that he did not remember anything about the position of the landing gear.

An eyewitness in a nearby boat observed the airplane nose over and pulled over to assist the occupants. Once near the plane he observed the pilot unconscious with his head underwater. He jumped in the water and pulled the pilot to his boat where he proceeded to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), until the pilot’s breathing was restored.

Two witnesses riding eastbound on US Highway 380 reported that around the time of the accident, they observed a small red and white airplane flying southbound about 20-30 feet above the bridge. The airplane was descending and it appeared as if the wheels where in a down position.

Another witness reported that, shortly after 4 pm, while in a boat heading west out of the Pier 121 marina, he observed a small pontoon equipped airplane flying northbound just in front and over the boat he was in. As the plane flew over he noticed that the landing gear was deployed and was sticking out below the pontoons. The witness estimated the airplane to be around 1000 feet in altitude, and believed that it was preparing to land near Stewart Peninsula.

A fifth witness was letting dogs out of the house when she heard a loud noise. As she looked towards the lake she observed an airplane flipping over. The witness reported that approximately two minutes later she could only see the wheels and the bottom of the airplane extending out of the water.

FMI: www.ntsb.gov