# NTSB ERA25LA208: Wagoner Richard Searey, N19535, Zellwood, FL, March 4, 2025

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Class 4 · Limited · Final report
- Date: March 4, 2025, 11:00 local (16:00 UTC)
- Place: Zellwood, FL
- Coordinates: 28.729897, -81.6513 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7299&lon=-81.6513&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 1 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report November 6, 2025
- 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): 200195
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=ERA25LA208
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/200195/pdf
- NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200195
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/ERA25LA208

## Probable cause

The pilot’s inadequate compensation for gusting wind conditions, which resulted in a hard 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: [Wagoner Richard SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05624IV), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md)
- [Wind: gusts](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045): Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena · Response/compensation (probable cause); cases with it: [Wagoner Richard SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md?model=05624IV), [All aircraft, 1,199 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03034045/cases.md)

## Sequence of events

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

- [Landing: Hard landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092) (defining event); cases with it: [Wagoner Richard SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md?model=05624IV), [All aircraft, 2,102 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/092/sequence.md)
- [Landing: Landing gear collapse](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094); cases with it: [Wagoner Richard SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md?model=05624IV), [All aircraft, 1,787 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/094/sequence.md)

## Analysis

The pilot reported that, while on final approach in gusty wind conditions, everything “looked good.” Suddenly, the wind “stopped,” and the airplane dropped to the runway, which resulted in a hard landing. The airplane’s left main landing gear collapsed resulting in substantial damage to the wing and fuselage structure. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N19535](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N19535), registered now, S/N 1MK419C, built 2024 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: WAGONER RICHARD SEAREY
- Registry model: [Wagoner Richard SEAREY](https://openairdocs.org/model/wagoner-richard-searey) (registry code 05624IV) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Rotax 914UL2-01](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-914ul2-01) (registry code 55597, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1MK419C
- Year built: 2024
- Airframe hours: 25
- Engines: ROTAX 914UL2-01 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Airport: FA83, Orlando North Airpark, runway 27, 4,000 × 50 ft, asphalt
- Equipment: None

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 72; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; last flight review August 23, 2024; seat: left; restraint: 3-point; flight hours: 2,202 total, 105 in this make and model, 2,130 as pilot in command, 15 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 130° at 13 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 61 °F
- Altimeter: 30.13 inHg
- Observed at: LEE, 10 nm away
- METAR: METAR KLEE 041453Z 13013KT 10SM CLR 22/16 A3013 RMK AO2 PK WND 11026/1436 SLP201 T02220156 50006=

## 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 20250304005429A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20250304005429A), Mar 4, 2025: Wagoner Richard SEAREY, Zellwood, FL, Substantial damage. Upon landing on touchdown, the left landing gear broke off and departed the aircraft. The aircraft veered off of the runway and came to rest in a drainage…

## Docket (3 files)

The files NTSB released with the investigation on November 6, 2025, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=200195. 8.3 MB in all.

- Pilot/operator aircraft accident report, NTSB form 6120.1 (item 1, PDF, 15 pages, 8.0 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18912498&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA25LA208%20Pilot%206120_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Pilot interview summary (item 2, PDF, 2 pages, 98 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18916221&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA25LA208%20Pilot%20MFR_Redacted-Rel.pdf
- Photo array (item 3, PDF, 3 pages, 189 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=18912508&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=ERA25LA208%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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