# NTSB ERA24LA272: Adams Walter R Searey, N425UW, Sopchoppy, FL, June 21, 2024

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: June 21, 2024, 18:45 local (22:45 UTC)
- Place: Sopchoppy, FL · On the river at 118 Easy St. South
- Coordinates: 30.21007, -84.681781 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=30.2101&lon=-84.6818&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Investigation class: Class 4 - Basic report with no Prelim publish
- NTSB office: Eastern Region Aviation
- Parties: FAA/FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 194532
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA272
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194532/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194532
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA272

## Probable cause

The pilot’s improper landing flare, which resulted in abnormal contact with the water during landing.

## 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: [Adams Walter R SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=056293U), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Performance/control parameters: landing flare](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Adams Walter R SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=056293U), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened.

- [Landing: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090) (defining event); cases with it: [Adams Walter R SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=056293U), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The non-certificated pilot of the amphibious airplane reported that he was approaching a river for landing “too fast,” and that during the touchdown on the water he did not “have the yoke pulled back enough.” When he fully released the control yoke, and the airplane’s nose immediately pitched down into the water, resulting in substantial damage to the fiberglass hull. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N425UW](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N425UW), registered now, S/N 1MK-208, built 2012 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: ADAMS WALTER R SEAREY (LS Classic)
- Registry model: [Adams Walter R SEAREY](https://openairdocs.org/model/adams-walter-r-searey) (registry code 056293U) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax SEE BOMBADIER](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-see-bombadier) (registry code 55555, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1MK-208
- Year built: 2012
- Engines: Rotax 912S 100 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Destination: Same as departure
- Airport: NONE, Ochlockonee River
- Equipment: ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Onboard weather

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 44; injuries: none; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 150 total, 6 in this make and model

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 40° at 7 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Temperature: 93 °F, dew point 63 °F
- Altimeter: 30.03 inHg
- Observed at: TLH, 20 nm away
- METAR: KTLH 212253Z 04007KT 10SM FEW075 34/17 A3003 RMK AO2 SLP169 T03440167

## 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 20240621010839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240621010839A), Jun 21, 2024: Adams Walter R SEAREY, Sopchoppy, FL, Substantial damage. Pilot of [privacy data omitted] stated that he was “coming in too fast” and that he did not have the yoke pulled back enough during the touchdown. The initial…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 4, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194532. 6.8 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 4.7 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17407761&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA272%206120%20OUO_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Interview summary - pilot (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 69 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17406276&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA272%20ROC_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Investigative photographs (item 3, PDF, 4 pages, 2.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17406468&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA24LA272%20Photo%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.

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