Pilot Debrief

Thomas J. Dorsey Searey near Mount Dora, FL — 2008-03-29

Final reportMIA08CA085
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Date
2008-03-29
Location
Mount Dora, FL, USA
Aircraft
Thomas J. Dorsey Searey
Registration
N202MT
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
None
Fatalities
0

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to verify the position of the landing gear prior to making a water landing.

NTSB narrative

According to the pilot of an amateur built Searey amphibian airplane, he departed Eustis, Florida about 1420 and flew towards Lake Dora, Florida, to do a water landing. The approach onto Lake Dora, was normal. As he touched down he looked and realized that he had not retracted the landing gear. He applied full power and full aft elevator, however the drag from the landing gear did not allow the airspeed to increase and the airplane came to a rapid stop, and sustained substantial damage. The pilot further stated, that he had good instruction, and has flown many different airplanes, "I just made a bad mistake that I hope never happens again."

NTSB coding

View NTSB final report

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