# NTSB ERA24LA313: Trozzi Thomas Searey, N222D, Eustis, FL, July 6, 2024 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: July 6, 2024, 08:40 local (12:40 UTC) - Place: Eustis, FL - Coordinates: 28.910671, -81.731789 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.9107&lon=-81.7318&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: 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): 194737 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA24LA313 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/194737/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194737 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA24LA313 ## Probable cause The flight instructor's failure to properly configure the landing gear before performing a 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 · Instructor/check pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Trozzi Thomas SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=056191H), [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 · Incorrect use/operation (probable cause); cases with it: [Trozzi Thomas SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md?model=056191H), [All aircraft, 416 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01023230/cases.md) - [Communication system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03016000): Environmental issues › Operating environment · Effect on personnel; cases with it: [Trozzi Thomas SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03016000/cases.md?model=056191H), [All aircraft, 5 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03016000/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: [Trozzi Thomas SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=056191H), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Trozzi Thomas SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=056191H), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The private pilot/owner of the amphibious airplane was receiving instruction to obtain his seaplane rating. After the pilot receiving instruction took off from a runway, the flight instructor took control of the airplane to demonstrate a water landing. While maneuvering for the water landing, the flight instructor reported he was distracted by static over the intercom system and failed to reconfigure the landing gear to the retracted position for a landing on water. Upon touching down on the water, the airplane nosed over resulting in substantial damage to the fuselage. The airplane quickly became submerged in water and the pilots removed their restraints, opened the canopy, and swam away from the wreckage. The pilot reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N222D](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N222D), registered now, S/N 1MK378C, built 2005 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: TROZZI THOMAS SEAREY - Registry model: [Trozzi Thomas SEAREY](https://openairdocs.org/model/trozzi-thomas-searey) (registry code 056191H) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 914 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-914-series) (registry code 55575, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1MK378C - Year built: 2005 - Airframe hours: 740 - Engines: ROTAX 914 SERIES 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Instructional, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, June 7, 2024 - Departed: X23, Umatilla, FL - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: NONE, Lake Yale - Equipment: ADS-B, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 53; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 1, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 4-point; flight hours: 525 total, 24 in this make and model, 427 as pilot in command, 24 in the last 90 days, 24 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours - Flight instructor; age 70; injuries: none; flight instructor, remote, commercial, airline transport; airplane ratings: multi-engine land, single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review July 18, 2022; seat: right; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 32,000 total, 28 in this make and model, 30,000 as pilot in command, 21 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: calm - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: 4,700 ft overcast - Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 75 °F - Altimeter: 29.98 inHg - Observed at: LEE, 7 nm away - METAR: KLEE 061153Z 00000KT 10SM OVC047 27/24 A2998 RMK AO2 SLP150 T02720244 10272 20256 53013 $,M ## 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 20240706010689A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20240706010689A), Jul 6, 2024: Trozzi Thomas SEAREY, Leesburg, FL, Destroyed. On the morning of Saturday, July 6, 2024, instructor pilot was demonstrating ([privacy data omitted]) a water landing [privacy data omitted]) on lake yale.… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 4, 2024, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=194737. 6.2 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 11 pages, 5.3 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17487611&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Accident%20Incident%20Report%20Form%206120.1_1_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Flight instructor aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 2, PDF, 21 pages, 336 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17480011&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=NTSB%20Accident%20Incident%20Report%20-Instructor_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for record a�� email statement, instructor pilot (item 3, PDF, 1 page, 86 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17485892&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MOR%20Instructor%20Pilot%20Statement%20N222D-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 4, PDF, 5 pages, 517 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=17480255&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Investigation%20Photographs-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.