N573TB – BAUER THOMAS G KITFOX III – 2014-12-20 NTSB Accident Report

On December 20, 2014, a Bauer Thomas G KITFOX III (N573TB) was involved in an incident near Bumpass, VA. All 2 people aboard were uninjured. The aircraft sustained substantial damage.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined the probable cause of this incident to be: The pilot's improper flare during a water landing.

According to the pilot he and his passenger departed from a lake marina on a local flight to conduct water take offs and landings. The flight was uneventful, but during the landing approach, the pilot reported that he misjudged the flare height due to the lack of visual reference on the water surface. He flared the airplane high and subsequently landed hard. Post-accident investigation revealed that the left forward float strut attachment point and lower left frame tube was sustained substantial damage. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

This incident is documented in NTSB report ERA15CA080. AviatorDB cross-references NTSB investigation data with FAA registry records to provide comprehensive safety information for aircraft N573TB.