N538BA

N538BA is an Icon A-5, a single-engine piston aircraft operated by ICONIC FLIGHT LLC. SkyMeter has tracked 540 flights totalling 248 hours of airtime via ADS-B across 2 callsigns. The most frequent segment is KDTO to KDTO. Service window in our records spans 402 days. Of those flights, 40 (7.4%) carry at least one detected incident — go-around, unstable approach, stall warning, or runway excursion. The Icon A-5 has a 35 ft wingspan, a maximum takeoff weight of 1,510 lb.

About the Icon A-5

The ICON A5 is a two-seat amphibious light-sport aircraft that brought sleek automotive-inspired design and spin-resistant handling to the recreational flying market when it entered production in 2014. Built by California-based ICON Aircraft, the A5 features folding wings for trailering and garage storage, a carbon-fiber fuselage, and a distinctive "spin-resistant airframe" with an angle-of-attack indicator as standard equipment — addressing one of general aviation's leading causes of fatal accidents. Powered by a 100-horsepower Rotax 912iS engine, the amphibian cruises around 85 knots and can operate from both runways and water, making it popular for coastal and lakefront flying.

Its cockpit borrows cues from sports cars, with a center-mounted control stick and simplified avionics aimed at making flying more intuitive for newcomers. The A5 qualifies as a special light-sport aircraft under FAA rules, meaning it can be flown by pilots holding only a sport pilot certificate, though its $389,000 price tag and production delays kept deliveries modest compared to initial demand. The type gained attention in 2017 after two high-profile fatal accidents involving experienced pilots, prompting ICON to revise training protocols and emphasize the aircraft's low-altitude maneuvering limitations.

Despite early growing pains, the A5 remains one of the few modern amphibious aircraft in production and has cultivated a niche following among pilots seeking a fun, versatile platform for low-and-slow coastal and backcountry flying. SkyMeter has tracked flights across airframes and operators, with the largest observed operator.