# NTSB ERA19LA229: Progressive Aerodyne Searey, N632FG, Crescent, FL, July 16, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 16, 2019, 16:45 local (20:45 UTC) - Place: Crescent, FL - Coordinates: 29.43, -81.604164 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4300&lon=-81.6042&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Approach](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/500) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Approach-VFR pattern final: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) - Highest injury: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation - Parties: FAA/FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 99865 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA19LA229 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/99865/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99865 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA19LA229 ## Probable cause The pilot’s misjudgment of his altitude during landing and subsequent decrease in pitch attitude, which resulted in a collision with the water. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Gracy Norman F SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05602P2), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) - [Runway/land/takeoff/taxi surface: glassy surface](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023025): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on operation; cases with it: [Gracy Norman F SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023025/cases.md?model=05602P2), [All aircraft, 25 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03023025/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Approach-VFR pattern final: Controlled flight into terr/obj (CFIT)](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120) (defining event); cases with it: [Gracy Norman F SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md?model=05602P2), [All aircraft, 1,074 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/120/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting a test flight following minor maintenance he had performed on the airplane. While attempting to land on water in calm wind conditions (he described the water as “glass smooth”), the pilot applied forward stick and immediately found himself underwater. He later stated he believed he lost depth perception when he leveled out above the water's surface prior to touchdown and pushed the nose down to land. Witnesses report the airplane nosed over just prior to landing. ## Factual narrative On July 16, 2019, about 1700 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built SeaRey amphibious airplane, N632FG, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Crescent, Florida. The pilot was seriously injured. The airplane was operated under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight. The pilot stated he had been working on the airplane trying to solve an engine start problem. He discovered the engine had lost its ground to the airframe and decided to conduct a test flight. He departed and flew for about 15 minutes before returning for a full stop landing on the water. The pilot stated that the wind was calm and the water was “glass smooth.” During the landing, he applied forward stick then "instantly I found myself underwater." He later stated he believed he lost depth perception when he leveled for touchdown and was higher than he thought. Witnesses report the airplane nosed over just prior to landing. A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector traveled to the site and examined the airplane. The nose was partially separated from the fuselage. A subsequent engine test run was performed by friends of the pilot, who reported that the engine started immediately, accelerated smoothly, and ran continuously without interruption. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N632FG](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N632FG-2020-01-08), registration cancelled 2020-01-08, S/N 1MK-033, built 1996 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Progressive Aerodyne SEAREY (No Series) - Registry model: [Gracy Norman F SEAREY](https://openairdocs.org/model/gracy-norman-f-searey) (registry code 05602P2) (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-033 - Year built: 1996 - Engines: Rotax 912UL 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 17, 2018 - Departed: FD44, Crescent, FL - Destination: FD44, Crescent, FL - Airport: FD44, Eagles Nest Aerodrome - Equipment: Handheld GPS ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 79; injuries: serious; airline transport, commercial, flight instructor; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, multi-engine sea, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review October 27, 2018; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,590 total, 7 in this make and model, 19,255 as pilot in command, 4 in the last 90 days, 4 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 91 °F, dew point 73 °F - Altimeter: 30.07 inHg - Observed at: K28J, 15 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 20190716011869A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190716011869A), Jul 16, 2019: Gracy Norman F SEAREY, Crescent City, FL, Substantial damage. The [privacy data omitted] pilot had recently purchased the aircraft several weeks before this accident. He was landing to the south on the lake, wind… ## Docket (5 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on February 11, 2022, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=99865. 5.0 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 2.8 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9117433&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Form%206120%20Aircraft%20Accident%20%20Report%20final_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Pilot's statement (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 77 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9122429&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Pilot%20Correspondance_Redacted-Rel.pdf - FAA inspector's statement (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 33 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9247720&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Memorandum%20for%20Record%20-FAA%20Inspector%20Statement%20-%20Kandravi-Rel.pdf - Witness statements (item 4, PDF, 2 pages, 1.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=13237339&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Witness%20Statements_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Photo array (item 5, PDF, 2 pages, 384 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9117733&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photo%20Array-Rel.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.