# NTSB GAA18CA212: Sasser Allen L Searey, N124AL, Welaka, FL, April 6, 2018 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: April 6, 2018, 13:21 local (17:21 UTC) - Place: Welaka, FL - Coordinates: 29.414443, -81.652778 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=29.4144&lon=-81.6528&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: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report October 24, 2018 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: General Aviation Accidents - Parties: FAA - NTSB case key (mKey): 97027 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=GAA18CA212 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/97027/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97027 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/GAA18CA212 ## Probable cause The pilot’s incorrect pitch input during a water landing, which resulted in a nose-over. Contributing to the accident were the pilot’s inadequate training and experience in the make and model airplane. ## 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: [Sasser Allen L SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05636IK), [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: [Sasser Allen L SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md?model=05636IK), [All aircraft, 1,285 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062041/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: qualification/certification](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Sasser Allen L SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md?model=05636IK), [All aircraft, 280 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031010/cases.md) - [Experience/qualifications: total experience w/ equipment](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025): Personnel issues › Experience/knowledge · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Sasser Allen L SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/cases.md?model=05636IK), [All aircraft, 269 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02031025/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: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Sasser Allen L SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05636IK), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis According to the pilot in the experimental, amateur-built, amphibious airplane, during a water landing he "decided that the nose was slightly high." He applied forward pressure on the control stick, the nose pitched down, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward right-wing lift strut and windshield. The pilot noted that he had accumulated 3.8 hours of flight time in the accident airplane make and model. He asserted that more pilot training in the airplane make and model could have prevented the accident. The pilot held a Federal Aviation Administration private pilot certificate with an airplane single-engine land rating. He did not possess an airplane single-engine sea rating. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative According to the pilot in the experimental amateur-build amphibious airplane, during a water landing he, "decided that the nose was slightly high." He applied forward pressure on the control stick, the nose pitched down, and the airplane nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the forward right-wing lift strut and windshield. Per the National Transportation Safety Board Pilot Aircraft Accident Report, the pilot noted that he had accumulated 3.8 hours of flight time in the accident airplane make and model. He asserted that more pilot training in the airplane make and model could have prevented the accident. The pilot held a Federal Aviation Administration Private Pilot certificate with an airplane single engine land rating. He did not possess an airplane single engine sea rating. The pilot reported that there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N124AL](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N124AL-2019-08-09), registration cancelled 2019-08-09, S/N 1DK204, built 2017 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: SASSER ALLEN L SEAREY (NO SERIES) - Registry model: [Sasser Allen L SEAREY](https://openairdocs.org/model/sasser-allen-l-searey) (registry code 05636IK) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912-series) (registry code 55569, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1DK204 - Year built: 2017 - Airframe hours: 6.9 - Engines: Rotax 912 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, September 24, 2017 - Departed: Palatka, FL - Destination: Palatka, FL ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; medical: class 2, with waivers/limitations; last flight review June 17, 2017; seat: left; flight hours: 306.2 total, 3.7 in this make and model, 276.5 as pilot in command, 12.1 in the last 90 days, 5.9 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 10° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Temperature: 79 °F, dew point 54 °F - Altimeter: 30.06 inHg - Observed at: KDED, 28 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 20180406010479A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20180406010479A), Apr 6, 2018: Sasser Allen SEAREY, East Palatka, FL, Substantial damage. [privacy data omitted]Pilot was practicing landings in front of his house on the st johns river. Weather was clear sunny, with a light breeze. 3 landings… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on September 4, 2018, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=97027. 4.4 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 4.1 MB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466274&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Photo (item 2, .PDF, 1 photo, 261 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40466275&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo-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.