Primary finding
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to check the position of the landing gear before attempting a water landing.
Investigator assessment
Analysis narrative
The amphibian airplane took off from a paved runway and was conducting a water landing. The pilot said, 'landed on river...immediate pitch forward to inverted.' the FAA inspector's examination of the airplane revealed that the landing gear handle was in the 'up' position, but the landing gear was in the 'down' position. The landing gear retraction circuit breaker was 'out,' thus rendering the landing gear retraction system inoperative. The circuit breaker was reset, and the landing gear was retracted several times. All landing gear indicator lights operated normally.
Source record
Factual narrative
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