# Accident 20231228022299A: Progressive Aerodyne Inc SEAREY LSA, Chemhuevi India, CA, December 28, 2023

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: December 28, 2023, 09:57 local time
- Place: Chemhuevi India, CA
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 34.5111° N, 114.3823° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.5111&lon=-114.3823&mi=10
- Aircraft: N312PR, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N312PR-2025-03-08) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Progressive Aerodyne SEAREY LSA (registry code 060009O, https://openairdocs.org/model/progressive-aerodyne-searey-lsa) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Rotax 914UL (registry code 55553, https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-914ul) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: PROGRESSIVE AERODYNE INC SEAREY LSA
- Reported engine: ROTAX 914UL
- People aboard: 1
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 0
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot, sport pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 200 total, 75 in this make and model, 19 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB WPR24LA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA062) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20231228022299A

## Narrative

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

THE PILOT OF ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^ DEPARTED KHII AIRPORT 12/28/2023 AFTER DISCONNECTING TWO CIRCUIT BREAKERS FOR THE LEFT AND RIGHT MAIN LANDING GEAR WHILE THE AIRCRAFT'S LANDING GEAR WAS IN THE "DOWN" POSITION. THE PILOT CLAIMED TO HAVE BEEN TRAINED IN THIS MANNER BY AN EXPERIENCED INSTRUCTOR, WHO CONFIRMED THE TRAINING. THE PILOT THEN PROCEEDED TO FLY AND LATER ATTEMPT A WATER LANDING ON THE COLORADO RIVER IN THIS CONFIGURATION. THE PILOT STATED THAT HE DID NOT CLOSE OR CONNECT THE DISCONNECTED CIRCUIT BREAKERS AND BRING THE LANDING GEAR UP PRIOR TO THE ATTEMPTED WATER LANDING, THOUGH THE LANDING GEAR POSITION SWITCH MAY HAVE BEEN IN THE "UP" POSITION. THE MANUFACTURER'S FLIGHT MANUAL STATES: "PILOTS SHOULD MAKE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT THE UNDERCARRIAGE IS IN THE 'UP' AND LOCKED POSITION AT ALL TIMES, WHEN CARRYING OUT WATER LANDINGS. SERIOUS AIRCRAFT DAMAGE AND PERSONAL INJURY MAY RESULT IF THIS IS NOT OBSERVED." THE ATTEMPTED WATER LANDING RESULTED IN THE AIRCRAFT BEING SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGED AND SINKING, YET THE PILOT ESCAPED UNINJURED. THERE WERE NO OTHER KNOWN AIRCRAFT OCCUPANTS, NOR WAS ANY DAMAGE REPORTED BEYOND THAT SUSTAINED BY THE 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 WPR24LA062](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR24LA062), Dec 28, 2023: Progressive Aerodyne Searey LSA (N312PR), Lake Havasu, CA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to confirm the landing gear was configured for a water landing during the approach. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s deviation from the airplanes operating procedures…

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.

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