# Accident 20180729018299A: Old West Funding Inc SEAREY, Haverhill, NH, July 29, 2018

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: July 29, 2018, 13:20 local time
- Place: Haverhill, NH
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Approach
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 43.4526° N, 71.5633° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=43.4526&lon=-71.5633&mi=10
- Aircraft: N221EZ, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N221EZ-2019-08-28) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: OLD West Funding SEAREY (registry code 056216N, https://openairdocs.org/model/old-west-funding-searey) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: OLD WEST FUNDING INC SEAREY
- Reported engine: ROTAX 914ULS
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 700 total, 498 in this make and model, 21 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA18LA204](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA204) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180729018299A

## Narrative

As the FAA filed it, in capitals; the FAA replaces private details with ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

THE AIRCRAFT DEPARTED LACONIA MUNICIPAL AIRPORT (LCI) EN ROUTE TO THE CONNECTICUT RIVER NEAR DEAN MEMORIAL AIRPORT (5B9) IN HAVERHILL, NH.  THE FLIGHT WAS CONDUCTED UNDER VISUAL FLIGHT RULES, WITHOUT A FLIGHT PLAN.  THE PILOT IN COMMAND STATED THAT HE MADE TWO UNEVENTFUL LANDINGS ON THE CONNECTICUT RIVER, AND TOOK OFF FOR A THIRD LANDING.  WHILE ON A MODIFIED BASE LEG, THE PILOT STATED THAT THE PRIMARY FLIGHT CONTROL STICK WAS UNABLE TO MOVE BEYOND THE VERTICAL POSITION.  HE STATED THAT HE APPLIED FULL THROTTLE IN AN ATTEMPT TO GO AROUND, BUT DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH PERFORMANCE TO AVOID TREES ALONG THE SHORE OF THE RIVER.  THE PILOT STATED THAT THE AIRCRAFT IMPACTED A TREE AND FELL TO THE RIVER.

THE PILOT AND OCCUPANT EXITED THE AIRCRAFT AND WERE MET BY RESCUE PERSONNEL.  THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED THE MOST SEVERE INJURIES AND WAS AIRLIFTED TO THE HOSPITAL.  THE PILOT ALSO SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES AND WAS TRANSPORTED VIA AMBULANCE.

INVESTIGATION OF THE AIRCRAFT FOUND SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO THE HULL AND FORWARD COCKPIT AREA, AND THE OUTER HALF OF BOTH WINGS, WITH THE LEFT WING MORE SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.  THE LEFT MAIN LANDING GEAR WAS ALSO SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED.  THE HULL AND FUSELAGE WERE SUBMERGED FOR APPROXIMATELY 24 HOURS.  NO ENGINE DAMAGE WAS NOTED.  INSPECTION OF FLIGHT CONTROLS FOUND THAT ALL PRIMARY CONTROLS WERE CONNECTED, BUT OPERATION OF THE CONTROLS WAS NOT POSSIBLE DUE AIRCRAFT DAMAGE.  ENGINE CONTROLS WERE CONNECTED AND OPERABLE.

THE PILOT IN COMMAND IS A PRIVATE PILOT WITH AN AIRPLANE SINGLE ENGINE LAND RATING.  THE AIRCRAFT MEETS THE REQUIREMENTS TO BE OPERATED AS A SINGLE ENGINE LAND AND SEA LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT.  THE PILOT IN COMMAND DOES NOT HAVE AN APPROPRIATE ENDORSEMENT TO OPERATE SINGLE ENGINE SEA LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT.

## The NTSB's investigation of this event (1)

From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.

- [NTSB ERA18LA204](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA18LA204), Jul 29, 2018: Progressive Aerodyne Searey (N221EZ), Haverhill, NH, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from trees while maneuvering the airplane at a very low altitude in a confined area while attempting to land on a river.

## Other reports on N221EZ (1)

Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.

- [Incident 20090513010949I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090513010949I), May 13, 2009: Amtr SEAREY (N221EZ), Howie In The H, FL, Minor damage. (-23) After landing on the water, 90 degree wind gust raised right wing which caused a/c to pitch to the left and collapse left float allowing hull to rotate…

From the FAA Accident/Incident Data System. Reports are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. For accidents, the NTSB's own investigation is the fuller record.

---
OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.