What happened
The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.
Searey amateur-built experimental aircraft/boat departed from napa (kapc), one pilot, one passenger, VMC flight.
While sightseeing around the Sacramento area, decided to land on the American river.
Pilot landed in the American river with landing gear still extended which stopped the aircraft suddenly and the Searey submerged with both occupants.
Pilot was able to escape, passenger was still inside.
Passenger was eventually removed alive but unconscious from aircraft and died from complications two weeks later in hospital.
Aircraft was operational per his logbook entries, pilot's qualifications were current when questioned by an operations (pilot) inspector. This report may be added to or amended in the future.
As the FAA filed it
SEAREY AMATEUR-BUILT EXPERIMENTAL AIRCRAFT/BOAT DEPARTED FROM NAPA (KAPC), ONE PILOT, ONE PASSENGER, VMC FLIGHT.
WHILE SIGHTSEEING AROUND THE SACRAMENTO AREA, DECIDED TO LAND ON THE AMERICAN RIVER.
PILOT LANDED IN THE AMERICAN RIVER WITH LANDING GEAR STILL EXTENDED WHICH STOPPED THE AIRCRAFT SUDDENLY AND THE SEAREY SUBMERGED WITH BOTH OCCUPANTS.
PILOT WAS ABLE TO ESCAPE, PASSENGER WAS STILL INSIDE.
PASSENGER WAS EVENTUALLY REMOVED ALIVE BUT UNCONSCIOUS FROM AIRCRAFT AND DIED FROM COMPLICATIONS TWO WEEKS LATER IN HOSPITAL.
AIRCRAFT WAS OPERATIONAL PER HIS LOGBOOK ENTRIES, PILOT'S QUALIFICATIONS WERE CURRENT WHEN QUESTIONED BY AN OPERATIONS (PILOT) INSPECTOR. THIS REPORT MAY BE ADDED TO OR AMENDED IN THE FUTURE.
NTSB investigation
The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.
Other reports on N24YD · 1
Matched to the same aircraft by N-number and date.