# NTSB ANC15CA047: Progressive Aerodyne Searey LSA, N543SR, Elfin Cove, AK, July 8, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 7, 2015, 16:45 local (Jul 8, 2015, 00:45 UTC) - Place: Elfin Cove, AK - Coordinates: 58.194999, -136.347229 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=58.1950&lon=-136.3472&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report February 8, 2016 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Alaska Regional Office - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 91524 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ANC15CA047 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91524/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91524 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ANC15CA047 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain clearance from a boat while landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Attention/monitoring: task monitoring/vigilance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Progressive Aerodyne SEAREY LSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md?model=060009O), [All aircraft, 330 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021520/cases.md) - [Object/animal/substance](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Progressive Aerodyne SEAREY LSA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md?model=060009O), [All aircraft, 224 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022000/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Collision during takeoff/land](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490) (defining event); cases with it: [Progressive Aerodyne SEAREY LSA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md?model=060009O), [All aircraft, 1,309 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/490/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot reported that he was landing an amphibious, light sport airplane, in the ocean waters of an inland cove. He stated that after returning from a local area flight he attempted to land in a more open landing area, but was unable to due to large ocean swells. Considering increasingly poor weather conditions and low fuel, he decided to land in a smaller cove that contained fishing boats. He stated that while landing he misjudged the clearance from one of the boats, and the right wing subsequently struck a trolling pole, which pivoted the airplane to the right. As a result, the right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot reported that he was landing an amphibious, light sport airplane, in the ocean waters of an inland cove. He stated that after returning from a local area flight, he attempted to land in a more open landing area, but was unable to due to large ocean swells. Considering increasingly poor weather conditions and low fuel, he decided to land in a smaller cove that contained fishing boats. He stated that while landing he misjudged the clearance from one of the boats, and the right wing subsequently struck a trolling pole, which pivoted the airplane to the right. As a result, the right wing sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated that there were no mechanical anomalies that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N543SR](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N543SR), registered now, S/N 1013, built 2014 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: PROGRESSIVE AERODYNE INC SEAREY LSA - Registry model: [Progressive Aerodyne SEAREY LSA](https://openairdocs.org/model/progressive-aerodyne-searey-lsa) (registry code 060009O) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 914UL](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-914ul) (registry code 55553, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1013 - Year built: 2014 - Airframe hours: 204 - Engines: Rotex 914UL 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Morris Keeney - Registered owner: E.C. Investments - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Special light-sport (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, August 8, 2014 - Departed: ELV, Elfin Cove, AK - Destination: ELV, Elfin Cove, AK - Airport: ELV, Elfin Cove ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 71; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 3, 2014; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 5,026.8 total, 238.3 in this make and model, 4,873.5 as pilot in command, 141.8 in the last 90 days, 10.3 in the last 30 days, 1.3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Instrument (IMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 2 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 700 ft overcast - Temperature: 57 °F, dew point 57 °F - Altimeter: 30.11 inHg - Observed at: ELV ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20150707015029A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150707015029A), Jul 7, 2015: Progressive Aerodyne Inc SEAREY LSA, Elfin Cove, AK, Substantial damage. Seaplane searey N543SR departed Elfin Cove, AK on July 8th 2015 at 1630 local. He had one passengers on board for a one hour 14 CFR part 91 local flight. In a… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on January 22, 2016, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91524. 704 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 637 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435882&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Pilot's Statement (item 2, .PDF, 66 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40435883&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%27s%20Statement-Master.PDF 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. --- 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.