# NTSB ERA25LA124: Decker Daniel B Searey, N40DJ, Tavares, FL, February 23, 2025 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report - Date: February 23, 2025, 14:00 local (19:00 UTC) - Place: Tavares, FL - Coordinates: 28.800556, -81.727778 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.8006&lon=-81.7278&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 2 minor - 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): 199754 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA124 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/199754/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199754 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA124 ## Probable cause The pilot’s improper flare during a bounced water landing, which resulted in a nose-down and submersion of the airplane’s open cockpit in 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: [Decker Daniel B SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05610JV), [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: [Decker Daniel B SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05610JV), [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-flare/touchdown: Abnormal runway contact](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090); cases with it: [Decker Daniel B SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md?model=05610JV), [All aircraft, 1,506 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/090/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Decker Daniel B SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05610JV), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the experimental amateur-built amphibous airplane reported that the wind was variable at 4 knots while he was attempting to land on a lake. The approach was normal; however, the airplane bounced 1 to 3 ft upon touchdown. The pilot opted not to abort the landing and recalled that when the airplane next contacted the water, the (open) cockpit was filled with water. The forward portion of the fuselage was substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, and that the accident could have been prevented with more training on “…the importance of keeping the nose up during water landings.” ## Aircraft - Registration: [N40DJ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N40DJ-2025-05-03), registration cancelled 2025-05-03, S/N 2470, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: DECKER DANIEL B SEAREY - Registry model: [Decker Daniel B SEAREY](https://openairdocs.org/model/decker-daniel-b-searey) (registry code 05610JV) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 2470 - Year built: 2010 - Engines: Rotax 914 Turbo 115 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: LNA, Lantana, FL - Destination: Same as departure - Airport: FA1, Tavares Seaplane Base, runway 9, 3,000 × 200 ft, water - Equipment: Electronic primary flight display, Handheld GPS, Onboard weather, Satellite tracking device, ADS-B, Angle of attack indicator, Electronic multifunction display, Electronic flight bag or handheld device ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 55; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land; medical: sport pilot; last flight review May 1, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 300 total, 100 in this make and model, 250 as pilot in command, 60 in the last 90 days, 50 in the last 30 days, 3 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 50 °F - Altimeter: 30.16 inHg - Observed at: LEE, 4 nm away - METAR: KLEE 231853Z VRB04KT 10SM CLR 22/10 A3016 RMK AO2 SLP212 T02220100 ## 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 20250223004179A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250223004179A), Feb 23, 2025: Decker Daniel B SEAREY, Tavares, FL, Destroyed. The pilot stated, on 2/23/2025, I was PIC of [privacy data omitted], departed klna approximately 11AM enroute to gainesville airport, with a planned refueling… ## Docket (3 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on May 9, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=199754. 4.8 MB in all. - Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 10 pages, 4.4 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18374210&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=6120_Redacted-Rel.pdf - Memorandum for the record - FAA inspector (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 63 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18373370&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=MFR-Rel.pdf - Investigation photographs (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 2 photos, 289 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18374055&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.