Pilot Debrief

SMITH BRET B SEAREY near Knoxville, TN — 2009-06-06

Final reportERA09LA325
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Date
2009-06-06
Location
Knoxville, TN, USA
Aircraft
SMITH BRET B SEAREY
Registration
N169GW
Category
Airplane
Highest injury
Fatal
Fatalities
2
Phase of flight
Maneuvering

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed, resulting in an aerodynamic stall and uncontrolled descent.

NTSB narrative

The pilot was providing rides to passengers in an amateur-built seaplane, and following a previous uneventful local flight with another passenger, the pilot returned, landed, and the accident passenger boarded. The final moments of the accident flight were captured on video by pleasure boaters. The airplane overflew the boat at a low altitude, then entered a steep bank, descended steeply, and impacted the water. Examination of the wreckage revealed no evidence of any preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures of the engine or flight controls. According to the experimental seaplane’s kit manufacturer, when equipped with a 100 horsepower engine and loaded with 2 occupants, the stall speed in level flight was 40 miles per hour.

Analysis

Primary failure mode
Loss of control
First missed decision gate
Pilot could have avoided steep bank maneuver before impact.

NTSB coding

Evidence available

  • Video
  • 7 docket documents
View NTSB final reportView NTSB docket

Docket documents7

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