# NTSB GAA15CA229: Mckinney Charles R Searey, N831CM, Augusta, KY, August 15, 2015 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: August 15, 2015, 16:30 local (20:30 UTC) - Place: Augusta, KY - Coordinates: 38.7775, -84.003608 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.7775&lon=-84.0036&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 8, 2015 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: Louisville FSDO (FAA) - NTSB case key (mKey): 91818 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA15CA229 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/91818/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91818 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA15CA229 ## Probable cause The amphibious airplane's impact with a submerged object during a water landing, which resulted in a nose over. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Object/animal/substance: hidden/submerged object](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022052): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Effect on equipment (probable cause); cases with it: [Mckinney Charles R SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022052/cases.md?model=05605W4), [All aircraft, 36 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03022052/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing-landing roll: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Mckinney Charles R SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05605W4), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Loss of control on ground](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230) (defining event); cases with it: [Mckinney Charles R SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md?model=05605W4), [All aircraft, 4,585 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/230/sequence.md) - [Landing-landing roll: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096); cases with it: [Mckinney Charles R SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05605W4), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the amphibious airplane stated that after a normal touchdown on a river, "5-10 seconds later we were upside down." The pilot and passenger were able to exit the airplane into the water and a nearby boater came to their assistance. The pilot stated that he believed he struck a submerged object in the water. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Inspector (ASI), the right side of the airplane showed evidence that the airplane struck an object submerged in the water. The FAA ASI also reported that he was informed of numerous recreational boats striking debris near the accident site earlier in the day. The fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative The pilot of the amphibious airplane stated that after a normal touchdown on a river, "5-10 seconds later we were upside down." The pilot and passenger were able to exit the airplane into the water and a nearby boater came to their assistance. The pilot stated that he believed he struck a submerged object in the water. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Inspector (ASI), the right side of the airplane showed evidence that the airplane struck an object submerged in the water. The FAA ASI also reported that he was informed of numerous recreational boats striking debris near the accident site earlier in the day. The fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N831CM](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N831CM-2021-06-30), registration cancelled 2021-06-30, S/N 1DK150, built 2001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: MCKINNEY CHARLES R SEAREY (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Mckinney Charles R SEAREY](https://openairdocs.org/model/mckinney-charles-r-searey) (registry code 05605W4) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Bombardier ROTAX (ALL)](https://openairdocs.org/engine/bombardier-rotax-all) (registry code 09050, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1DK150 - Year built: 2001 - Airframe hours: 90.7 - Engines: Bombardier Rotax 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, April 22, 2015 - Departed: OI57, HAMERSVILLE, OH - Destination: None, Augusta, KY ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 62; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review April 16, 2014; seat: left; restraint: lap only; flight hours: 2,210.1 total, 70 in this make and model, 17.7 in the last 90 days, 10.1 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 250° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 82 °F, dew point 64 °F - Altimeter: 30.15 inHg - Observed at: KI69, 12 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 20150815012889A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20150815012889A), Aug 15, 2015: Mckinney Charles R SEAREY, Augusta, KY, Substantial damage. Pilot landed the aircraft on the Ohio river by Augusta, KY. Just before coming off the step, the aircraft struck an unknown submerged object. After the… ## Docket (4 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 1, 2015, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=91818. 648 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 370 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432322&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (FAA Inpsector) (item 2, .PDF, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432323&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(FAA%20Inpsector)-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation (Pilot in Command) (item 3, .PDF, 53 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432324&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20(Pilot%20in%20Command)-Master.PDF - Photo 1 (Courtesy of FAA) (item 4, .PDF, 1 photo, 173 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40432325&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201%20(Courtesy%20of%20FAA)-Master.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.