- Date
- April 10, 2014, 11:00 local (15:00 UTC)
- Place
- Tavares, FL
- Injuries
- 1 minor, 1 uninjured
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Phase of flight
- Landing
- Aircraft
- N657GProgressive Aerodyne Searey LSA
- Defining event
- Landing-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact
- Weather
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Status
- Completed · report October 20, 2014
- Report
- Approved by Office Director
- NTSB office
- Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties
- FAA/FSDO
- FAA report
- 20140410005059A
- Case key
- 89040
From the NTSB’s public API. By law, NTSB reports can’t be used as evidence in lawsuits over the accident.
On this page
Probable cause
The pilot's improper landing flare resulting in a bounced landing and his delay in performing a go around which resulted in a collision with trees.
Findings · 5
NTSB’s coded findings. Those marked are part of the probable cause; the rest are factors or other findings. Under each, the cases with the same finding.
Sequence of events
The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event is the one that best describes the accident. Under each, the cases with the same event anywhere in their sequence.
Analysis
According to the pilot, he positioned his airplane to land in an area on a lake with light ripples. During the landing attempt, the airplane bounced and the pilot attempted to continue the landing instead of immediately initiating a go around. The pilot stated that he then elected to perform a go around; however, there was not enough room to clear the trees at the end of the lake. The airplane subsequently impacted the tree line and came to rest. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that both wing leading edges and the empennage incurred substantial damage. The pilot did not report any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Factual narrative
According to the pilot, he positioned his airplane to land in an area on a lake with light ripples. During the landing attempt, the airplane bounced and the pilot attempted to continue the landing instead of immediately initiating a go around. The pilot stated that he then elected to perform a go around; however, there was not enough room to clear the trees at the end of the lake. The airplane subsequently impacted the tree line and came to rest.Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that both wing leading edges and the empennage incurred substantial damage. The pilot did not report any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
Aircraft
- Registration
- N657G
- Reported as
- Progressive Aerodyne Searey LSA
- Category
- Airplane
- Serial number
- 1004
- Built
- 2014
- Airframe hours
- 55
- Engine
- Rotax 914, 115 horsepower, reciprocating
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal · Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate
- Special, Special light-sport (Special)
- Last inspection
- Condition · January 7, 2014 · 55 hours before
- Departed
- Apopka, FL
- Destination
- Tavares, FL
Matched to the registry by N-number and the event date; the registry’s history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model.
Flight crew
As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.
- Role
- Pilot
- Age
- 80
- Injuries
- None
- Certificate
- Commercial
- Airplane ratings
- Single-engine land, Single-engine sea, Multi-engine land
- Instrument ratings
- Helicopter
- Medical
- Class 3, Without waivers/limitations
- Last flight review
- April 1, 2014
- Seat
- Left
- Restraint
- 4-point
- Flight hours
- 12,000 total · 12,000 as pilot in command · 40 in the last 90 days
Weather
- Conditions
- Visual (VMC) · Day
- Wind
- Calm
- Visibility
- 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling
- None
- Temperature
- 72 °F, dew point 48 °F
- Altimeter
- 30.30 inHg
- Observed at
- LEE, 5 nm away
Docket · 3
The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 10, 2014, on NTSB’s docket system: statements, records, photos and specialists’ reports. 921 KB in all.
FAA reports on this event · 1
The FAA’s own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date.