# NTSB ATL07LA089: Gordon R Smith Sea Rey, N94GR, Port St. Joe, FL, June 14, 2007 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: June 14, 2007, 09:45 local (13:45 UTC) - Place: Port St. Joe, FL - Coordinates: 29.834444, -85.284721 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.8344&lon=-85.2847&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal - Status: Completed, report September 26, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 65979 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ATL07LA089 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/65979/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ATL07LA089 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain a visual lookout and his improper decision to conduct a low altitude maneuver. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with object, cruise - normal - object - wire,transmission - visual lookout - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) - in-flight planning/decision - improper, pilot in command (cause) - low altitude flight/maneuver - performed, pilot in command ## Analysis According to witnesses, the airplane was seen flying at tree top level when the right wing struck a power line and caused the airplane to cartwheel into the canal. Examination of the airplane found no preimpact mechanical failure or malfunctions that would have prevented the airplane from operating properly. ## Factual narrative On June 14, 2007, about 0945 eastern daylight time, an amateur-built Sea Rey, amphibian airplane, N94GR, collided with power lines over the Highland View Canal near Port St. Joe, Florida. The certificated private pilot was killed, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. The flight was operated as a personal flight under the provisions of 14 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 91, and no flight plan was filed. Visual meteorological conditions (VMC) prevailed at the time of the accident. The flight originated from the Costin Airport (A51), Port St Joe, Florida, about 0930, on the same day. According to witnesses, the airplane was seen flying at tree top level. The airplane started following the canal and the right wing struck a power line that crossed over the canal. Two of the witnesses swam to the airplane, pulled the pilot out, and laid him on the wing until emergency medical services (EMS) arrived. The pilot, age 62, held a private pilot certificate for airplane single-engine land, and a third-class medical certificate issued on January 17, 2006, with a restriction that he must wear corrective lenses. The pilot reported on his application for the medical certificate that he had accumulated 2,152 total flight hours. The pilot's logbook was not recovered for review. Examination of the airplane by a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector, found the wing center section partially separated and deformed. The fabric covering on both the left and right wings was ripped and torn away, exposing the internal structure of the wings. The left horizontal stabilizer sustained impact damage. Examination of the airplane found no preimpact mechanical failure or malfunctions. An autopsy was performed on the pilot on January15, 2007, by the Office of the Medical Examiner District Fourteen, Panama City, Florida. The autopsy findings reported the cause of death as drowning, with contributory conditions as multiple blunt trauma. Forensic toxicology was performed on specimens from the pilot by the FAA Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The toxicology report stated that no carbon monoxide, cyanide or ethanol was detected in blood or vitreous. No drugs were detected in urine. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N94GR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N94GR-2007-09-18), registration cancelled 2007-09-18, S/N 1MK-025, built 1995 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Gordon R Smith Sea Rey - Registry model: [Smith Gordon R SEA REY](https://openairdocs.org/model/smith-gordon-r-sea-rey) (registry code 05625ZB) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1MK-025 - Airframe hours: 692 - Engines: Rotax 912 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Daniel O. Smith - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: A51, Port St. Joe, FL - Destination: A51, Port St. Joe, FL - Airport: A51, Costin Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: fatal; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; seat: left; toxicology performed; flight hours: 2,152 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 110° at 7 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 77 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 29.95 inHg - Observed at: PFN, 41 nm away ## 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 20070614019309A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20070614019309A), Jun 14, 2007: Amtr SEAREY, Port St. Joe, FL, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. (-23) The pilot departed from Port saint joe airport (A51) and was reported flying at tree top level at about 80 to 100 feet. He then started flying the canal… 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.