# NTSB ERA12CA361: Lydon Patrick F Searey, N252JB, Sanford, FL, May 24, 2012 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: May 24, 2012, 08:40 local (12:40 UTC) - Place: Sanford, FL - Coordinates: 28.721111, -81.220558 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7211&lon=-81.2206&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report November 26, 2012 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 83743 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA12CA361 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/83743/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83743 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA12CA361 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to ensure that the landing gear was retracted for the water landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Landing gear system: gear extension and retract sys](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230): Aircraft › Aircraft systems · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Lydon Patrick F SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=056021W), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Lydon Patrick F SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=056021W), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Lydon Patrick F SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=056021W), [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); cases with it: [Lydon Patrick F SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=056021W), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot, he departed from a hard-surfaced runway for a flight to, and touch-and-go landing on, a lake approximately about 3 miles away. The touchdown on the lake was normal, but immediately after making contact with the water, the airplane abruptly decelerated and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the nose and fuselage. Postaccident examination revealed that the landing gear was in the extended and locked position; however, the position of the landing gear switch at impact could not be confirmed because of possible movement during the shutdown and recovery. Initially, the pilot stated that he "forgot to put the wheels up." Later, he reported that he raised the gear after the departure. However, no preaccident mechanical malfunction or failures were found that would have precluded normal gear retraction for a water landing. Thus, based on the evidence that the airplane nosed over immediately after touchdown and that the landing gear was extended and locked after impact, it is likely that the landing gear was not retracted after takeoff. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot, he departed a hard-surfaced runway for a flight to, and touch and go landing on, a lake approximately 3 miles away. He reported that the landing was normal, and immediately on making contact with the water the airplane abruptly decelerated and nosed over. The impact resulted in substantial damage to the nose and fuselage of the airplane. Postaccident examination revealed that the landing gear was in the extended and locked position; however, the gear handle position, at the time of the accident, could not be accurately determined. According to the Sheriff's report, the pilot stated that he "forgot to put the wheels up." No preaccident mechanical malfunction or failures were found that would have precluded normal gear retraction for a water landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N252JB](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N252JB-2018-02-07), registration cancelled 2018-02-07, S/N 1DK 062, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: LYDON PATRICK F SEAREY - Registry model: [Lydon Patrick F SEAREY](https://openairdocs.org/model/lydon-patrick-f-searey) (registry code 056021W) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1DK 062 - Airframe hours: 429 - Engines: Rotax 914 UL 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: Moonbeam Leasing - Registered owner: Moonbeam Leasing - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, May 20, 2012 - Departed: SFB, Sanford, FL - Destination: LEE, Leesburg, FL - Airport: SFB, Orlando-Sanford International ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: none; sport pilot, private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review September 27, 2010; seat: left; flight hours: 1,368 total, 348 in this make and model, 1,240 as pilot in command, 58 in the last 90 days, 16 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 50° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 72 °F - Altimeter: 29.92 inHg - Observed at: SFB, 3 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 20120524012269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20120524012269A), May 24, 2012: Lydon Patrick F SEAREY, Sanford, FL, Substantial damage. Pilot departed (sfb) and was in-flight for about 2-3 minutes and decided to do a "splash-down" in lake jessup. Upon touching down in the water, the pilot… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 7, 2012, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=83743. 5.2 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 - Pilot/Owner (item 1, .PDF, 138 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369292&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1%20-%20Pilot%2FOwner-Redacted.PDF - Memorandum for Record - Sanford, Florida Weather (item 2, .PDF, 107 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40368829&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-%20Sanford,%20Florida%20Weather-Master.PDF - Seminole County Sheriff's Office Report (item 3, .PDF, 207 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369564&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Seminole%20County%20Sheriff%27s%20Office%20Report-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1: Airplane At Rest (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 2.5 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369801&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%3A%20Airplane%20At%20Rest%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-Master.PDF - Photo 2: Airplane After Recovery from Water (Courtesy of the FAA) (item 5, .PDF, 2.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40369802&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%202%3A%20Airplane%20After%20Recovery%20from%20Water%20(Courtesy%20of%20the%20FAA)-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.