# NTSB DFW06CA092: Waterwings SeaRey, N42685, Vicksburg, MS, March 26, 2006 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: March 26, 2006, 15:20 local (21:20 UTC) - Place: Vicksburg, MS - Coordinates: 32.236946, -90.923614 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=32.2369&lon=-90.9236&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report August 29, 2006 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 63420 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DFW06CA092 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/63420/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DFW06CA092 ## Probable cause The pilot's inadvertent reduction of power resuting in a collision with water. Contributing factors were the low altiude selected and the pilot's inattention. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - In flight collision with terrain/water, cruise - low altitude flight/maneuver - selected, pilot in command (contributing factor) - gear retraction - attempted, pilot in command - throttle/power control - inadvertent, pilot in command (cause) - Nose over, other ## Analysis The 2,530-hour private pilot/owner was flying his experimental single-engine, amphibious airplane about 10-feet-high above the Mississippi River when he realized that the landing gear was extended. When the pilot attempted to retract the landing gear, he accidentally pulled the throttle back to the idle position, instead of the manual landing gear release lever. The pilot immediately realized what he had done and pushed the throttle to full power; however, the nose of the airplane had already dropped and the airplane collided with the water while at an airspeed of 70 to 75 miles per hour. Upon impact with the water, the airplane flipped-over. The pilot and his passenger were able to exit the airplane unassisted and swam to shore. The airplane sank in the river and attempts to locate it were unsuccessful. The airplane is still missing and presumed to be destroyed. ## Factual narrative The 2,530-hour private pilot/owner was flying his experimental single-engine, amphibious airplane about 10-feet-high above the Mississippi River when he realized the landing gear was extended. When the pilot attempted to retract the landing gear, he accidentally pulled the throttle back to the idle position, instead of the manual landing gear release lever. The pilot immediately realized what he had done and pushed the throttle to full power; however, the nose of the airplane had already dropped and the airplane collided with water while at an airspeed of 70 to 75 miles per hour. Upon impact with the water, the airplane flipped-over. The pilot and his passenger were able to exit the airplane unassisted and swim to shore. The airplane sank in the river and any attempt to locate it were unsuccessful. The airplane is still missing and presumed to be destroyed. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N42685](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N42685-2008-10-14), registration cancelled 2008-10-14, S/N 1DK326C, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Waterwings, Inc SeaRey - Registry model: [Waterwings SEAREY](https://openairdocs.org/model/waterwings-searey) (registry code 05619D4) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1DK326C - Engines: Rotax 912 UL reciprocating - Damage: Destroyed - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Daniel K. Fordice - Registered owner: Waterwings, Inc. - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: VKS, Vicksburg, MS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 45; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2; flight hours: 2,530 total, 30 in this make and model, 70 in the last 90 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day ## 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 20060326004929A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20060326004929A), Mar 26, 2006: Amtr SEAREY, Vicksburg, MS, Destroyed. (-23) Pilot stated he took off from vks airport at approximately 1505 LCL and flew west to the Mississippi river which is 3 miles west of the airport. He… 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.