Pilot Debrief

David Jarrett Searey near Ennis Lake, MT — 2008-07-09

Final reportLAX08CA220
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Date
2008-07-09
Location
Ennis Lake, MT, USA
Airport
NONE
Aircraft
David Jarrett Searey
Registration
N24YD
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Serious
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to retract the landing gear prior to landing on the water.

NTSB narrative

The experimental amphibian seaplane is capable of operating from water, and also from land airports when the retractable landing gear is extended. The pilot took off from a land airport and flew to his intended lake destination, where he intended to make a water landing. The pilot made a normal approach to the lake and the seaplane nosed over when the still extended landing gear wheels came in contact with the water. The forward portion of the seaplane's fuselage was crushed, and the pilot was seriously injured. The pilot subsequently reported that during the accident flight he had not experienced any mechanical malfunction with his airplane, and he "had forgotten to retract the landing gear" prior to the water landing.

NTSB coding

View NTSB final report

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