# NTSB LAX08CA220: David Jarrett Searey, N24YD, Ennis Lake, MT, July 9, 2008 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Serious injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: July 9, 2008, 10:30 local (16:30 UTC) - Place: Ennis Lake, MT - Coordinates: 45.5, -111.5 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=45.5000&lon=-111.5000&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: Serious injuries - Injuries: 1 serious - Status: Completed, report August 28, 2008 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 68413 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=LAX08CA220 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/68413/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA220 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to retract the landing gear prior to landing on the water. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Jarrett David SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=056226I), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md) - [Terrain: water](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Jarrett David SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020/cases.md?model=056226I), [All aircraft, 97 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020/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: [Jarrett David SEAREY, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=056226I), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The experimental amphibian seaplane is capable of operating from water, and also from land airports when the retractable landing gear is extended. The pilot took off from a land airport and flew to his intended lake destination, where he intended to make a water landing. The pilot made a normal approach to the lake and the seaplane nosed over when the still extended landing gear wheels came in contact with the water. The forward portion of the seaplane's fuselage was crushed, and the pilot was seriously injured. The pilot subsequently reported that during the accident flight he had not experienced any mechanical malfunction with his airplane, and he "had forgotten to retract the landing gear" prior to the water landing. ## Factual narrative The pilot initiated the accident flight from the Bozeman Airport. After departure, the pilot flew to his intended Ennis Lake destination, and he proceeded to land. The pilot made a normal approach and touchdown on the lake in his amphibious, experimental seaplane. The seaplane nosed over when the landing gear wheels came in contact with the water. The forward portion of the seaplane's fuselage was crushed, and the pilot was seriously injured. The pilot subsequently reported that during the accident flight he had not experienced any mechanical malfunction with his airplane, and he "had forgotten to retract the landing gear" prior to the water landing. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N24YD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N24YD), registered now, S/N 1DK427C, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: David Jarrett Searey - Registry model: [Jarrett David SEAREY](https://openairdocs.org/model/jarrett-david-searey) (registry code 056226I) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 914 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-914-series) (registry code 55575, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1DK427C - Engines: Rotax 914 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Operator: David C. Jarrett - Registered owner: David Jarrett - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: BZN, Bozeman, MT - Destination: NONE, Ennis Lake, MT - Airport: NONE, Lake Ennis ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 64; injuries: serious; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine sea, multi-engine land, single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3; flight hours: 4,200 total, 75 in this make and model, 65 in the last 90 days, 27 in the last 30 days ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 270° at 2 knots - Visibility: 50 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 64 °F ## 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 20080709840899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080709840899A), Jul 9, 2008: Amtr SEAREY, Ennis Lake, MT, Substantial damage. (-23) On 07/09/08, [privacy data omitted] flying an experimental category, homebuild amphibian searay aircraft, N24YD, from bozeman mt to Ennis Lake, MT… ## Other investigations on N24YD (1) 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. - [NTSB WPR19LA054](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA054), Jan 2, 2019: Progressive Aerodyne Searey (N24YD), Sacramento, CA, substantial damage, 1 fatal. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to properly configure the landing gear before performing a water landing. 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.