# Accident 20250223004179A: Decker Daniel B SEAREY, Tavares, FL, February 23, 2025

- Type: FAA accident report (Accident/Incident Data System), as reported
- Date: February 23, 2025, 14:08 local time
- Place: Tavares, FL
- Airport: Tavares Seaplane Base
- Damage: Destroyed
- Phase of flight: Landing: Touchdown
- Operating rules: General operating rules (Part 91)
- Location: 28.8006° N, 81.7278° W: From the FAA
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8006&lon=-81.7278&mi=10
- Aircraft: N40DJ, a cancelled registration (https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40DJ-2025-05-03) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry model: Decker Daniel B SEAREY (registry code 05610JV, https://openairdocs.org/model/decker-daniel-b-searey) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: Bombardier ROTAX (ALL) (registry code 09050, https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: DECKER DANIEL B SEAREY
- Reported engine: BOMBARDIER ROTAX (ALL)
- People aboard: 2
- Fatal injuries: 0
- Other injuries: 2
- Pilot certificates: Private pilot
- Pilot flight hours: 300 total, 100 in this make and model, 60 in the last 90 days
- NTSB investigation: [NTSB ERA25LA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA124) (OpenAirDocs)
- FAA source: FAA Aviation Safety Information Portal (https://asip.faa.gov/)
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250223004179A

## Narrative

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

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.

## 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 ERA25LA124](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA124), Feb 23, 2025: Decker Daniel B Searey (N40DJ), Tavares, FL, substantial damage. Probable cause: The 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.

## Other reports on N40DJ (1)

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

- [Incident 20040911021669I](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20040911021669I), Sep 11, 2004: Amtr SEAREY (N40DJ), New Milford, CT, Minor damage. (-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…

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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