# NTSB ERA09CA254: American Longevity Searey, N915TR, Littleton, NC, April 19, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 19, 2009, 10:12 local (14:12 UTC) - Place: Littleton, NC - Coordinates: 36.504444, -78.875 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=36.5044&lon=-78.8750&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - Status: Completed, report July 14, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 73686 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA09CA254 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/73686/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA09CA254 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to ensure the landing gear was properly configured for the water landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [American Longevity SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=05618OZ), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Not used/operated (probable cause); cases with it: [American Longevity SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=05618OZ), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095); cases with it: [American Longevity SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=05618OZ), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [American Longevity SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05618OZ), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The amphibian pilot departed from a paved runway, and planned a water landing on a lake near a small island. At touchdown, the airplane nearly nosed over, but came to rest upright, though it ultimately sank. The forward section of the hull, wing struts, wing structure, and landing gear all sustained damage during the accident sequence. The pilot later stated that he failed to raise the landing gear after his initial departure from the runway, and that he never used the landing checklist onboard the airplane during the flight. ## Factual narrative The amphibian pilot departed from a paved runway, and planned a water landing on a lake near a small island. At touchdown, the airplane nearly nosed over, came to rest upright, but ultimately sank. The forward section of the hull, wing struts, wing structure, and landing gear all sustained damage during the accident sequence. The pilot later stated that he failed to raise the landing gear after his initial departure from the runway, and he never used the checklist onboard the airplane during the flight. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N915TR](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N915TR-2013-06-07), registration cancelled 2013-06-07, S/N 1 DK 313 C, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: AMERICAN LONGEVITY CORP SEAREY - Registry model: [American Longevity SEAREY](https://openairdocs.org/model/american-longevity-searey) (registry code 05618OZ) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1 DK 313 C - Airframe hours: 120 - Engines: ROTAX 914 UL 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 6, 2009 - Departed: RZZ, Halifax, NC - Destination: NONE, Littleton, NC ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; injuries: minor; airline transport, sport pilot, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, without waivers/limitations; last flight review April 16, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 9,200 total, 30 in this make and model, 9,100 as pilot in command, 100 in the last 90 days, 60 in the last 30 days, 4 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 66 °F, dew point 43 °F - Altimeter: 30.00 inHg - Observed at: RZZ, 10 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 20090419004969A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090419004969A), Apr 19, 2009: Amtr SEAREY, Littleton, NC, Substantial damage. (-23) Pilot taking wife on pleasure flight. On approach to water landing, pilot extended landing gear. On touchdown, extended landing gear caused airplane to… 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.