20250223004179A

Accident · Destroyed

FAA accident report · Decker Daniel B SEAREY · Tavares, FL · February 23, 2025

Date: February 23, 2025 · 14:08 local
Place: Tavares, FL
Airport: Tavares Seaplane Base
Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
Damage: Destroyed
Aircraft: N40DJ
NTSB investigation: NTSBERA25LA124
Reported as: Decker Daniel B Searey
Reported engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)
People aboard: 2
Fatal injuries: 0
Other injuries: 2
Pilot’s certificate: Private pilot
Pilot’s flight hours: 300 total100 in this make and model60 in the last 90 days

N40DJRegistration cancelled May 3, 2025 · Decker Daniel B SEAREYS/N 2470 · Built 2004 Airframe modelDecker Daniel B SEAREY Engine modelBombardier ROTAX (ALL)Reciprocating

From the FAA’s Accident/Incident Data System (AIDS), through its Aviation Safety Information Portal, as reported. The NTSB investigates accidents separately, and its record of an accident is the fuller one. The aircraft is matched to the registry 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.

What happened

The FAA’s narrative, in sentence case. The FAA writes it in capitals and removes private details.

The pilot stated, on 2/23/2025, I was PIC of privacy data omitted, departed klna approximately 11AM enroute to gainesville airport, with a planned refueling stop at Tavares seaplane port. The weather was excellent and no mechanical issues were noted. There was one passenger aboard, privacy data omitted.

I attempted a landing near FA1 (Tavares). Winds were reported at leesburg as variable at 4MPH. Prevailing wind appeared to be from the east. I set up a water landing with a heading of approximately 90 degrees, avoiding boat traffic. With gear up and flaps at 30DEG, IAS 60 mph, I touched the water, bounced/skipped slightly (1-3'), opted not to go around, and at the next contact with the water the cabin was dark and submerged. Either the water came up (boat wake) or I let the nose drop.

We both independently immediately exited the plane and surfaced. We were rescued in minutes by bystander boats which took us to the Tavares ramp.

As the FAA filed it

THE PILOT STATED, ON 2/23/2025, I WAS PIC OF ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^, DEPARTED KLNA APPROXIMATELY 11AM ENROUTE TO GAINESVILLE AIRPORT, WITH A PLANNED REFUELING STOP AT TAVARES SEAPLANE PORT. THE WEATHER WAS EXCELLENT AND NO MECHANICAL ISSUES WERE NOTED. THERE WAS ONE PASSENGER ABOARD, ^PRIVACY DATA OMITTED^.

I ATTEMPTED A LANDING NEAR FA1 (TAVARES). WINDS WERE REPORTED AT LEESBURG AS VARIABLE AT 4MPH. PREVAILING WIND APPEARED TO BE FROM THE EAST. I SET UP A WATER LANDING WITH A HEADING OF APPROXIMATELY 90 DEGREES, AVOIDING BOAT TRAFFIC. WITH GEAR UP AND FLAPS AT 30DEG, IAS 60 MPH, I TOUCHED THE WATER, BOUNCED/SKIPPED SLIGHTLY (1-3'), OPTED NOT TO GO AROUND, AND AT THE NEXT CONTACT WITH THE WATER THE CABIN WAS DARK AND SUBMERGED. EITHER THE WATER CAME UP (BOAT WAKE) OR I LET THE NOSE DROP.

WE BOTH INDEPENDENTLY IMMEDIATELY EXITED THE PLANE AND SURFACED. WE WERE RESCUED IN MINUTES BY BYSTANDER BOATS WHICH TOOK US TO THE TAVARES RAMP.

NTSB investigation

The NTSB’s investigation of this event, with its probable cause and findings. Matched to this report by N-number and date.

NTSB ERA25LA124Accident · Minor injuriesClass 4 · LimitedFinal reportTavares, FLThe pilot’s improper flare during a bounced water landing, which resulted in a nose-down and submersion of the airplane’s open cockpit in the water.Feb 23, 2025 · Substantial damage

Other reports on N40DJ · 1

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

Incident 20040911021669ILevel Off Touchdown · New Milford, CT(-23) Mr. Decker departed from whelan farms airport (CT01). After flying in the local area of CT01 for approximately 20 minutes Mr. Decker flew to waterbury-oxford and conducted a few touch and go landings. Mr. Decker then proceeded to candlewood lake. After…Sep 11, 2004 · Minor damage