# NTSB MIA08CA085: Thomas J. Dorsey Searey, N202MT, Mount Dora, FL, March 29, 2008

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report
- Date: March 29, 2008, 14:30 local (18:30 UTC)
- Place: Mount Dora, FL
- Coordinates: 28.704444, -81.575553
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=28.7044&lon=-81.5756&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095)
- Highest injury: No injuries
- Injuries: 2 uninjured
- Status: Completed, report April 30, 2008
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- Parties: Tampa FSDO
- NTSB case key (mKey): 67740
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA08CA085
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/67740/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA08CA085

## Probable cause

The pilot's failure to verify the position of the landing gear prior to making a water landing.

## Findings

NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause.

- [Terrain: water](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Not specified; cases with it: [Dorsey Thomas J SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020/cases.md?model=05614XW), [All aircraft, 97 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020/cases.md)
- [Action: lack of action](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Dorsey Thomas J SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/cases.md?model=05614XW), [All aircraft, 792 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041030/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: Landing gear not configured](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095) (defining event); cases with it: [Dorsey Thomas J SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md?model=05614XW), [All aircraft, 584 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/095/sequence.md)

## Analysis

According to the pilot of an amateur built Searey amphibian airplane, he departed Eustis, Florida about 1420 and flew towards Lake Dora, Florida, to do a water landing. The approach onto Lake Dora, was normal. As he touched down he looked and realized that he had not retracted the landing gear. He applied full power and full aft elevator, however the drag from the landing gear did not allow the airspeed to increase and the airplane came to a rapid stop, and sustained substantial damage. The pilot further stated, that he had good instruction, and has flown many different airplanes, "I just made a bad mistake that I hope never happens again."

## Factual narrative

According to the pilot of an amateur built Searey amphibian airplane, he departed Eustis, Florida about 1420 and flew towards Lake Dora, Florida, to do a water landing. The approach onto Lake Dora, was normal. As he touched down he looked and realized that he had not retracted the landing gear. He applied full power and full aft elevator, however the drag from the landing gear did not allow the airspeed to increase and the airplane came to a rapid stop, and sustained substantial damage. The pilot further stated, that he had good instruction, and has flown many different airplanes, "I just made a bad mistake that I hope never happens again."

## Aircraft

- Registration: [N202MT](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N202MT-2013-05-09), registration cancelled 2013-05-09, S/N 1MK295C, built 2004 (OpenAirDocs)
- Reported make and model: Thomas J. Dorsey Searey
- Registry model: [Dorsey Thomas J SEAREY](https://openairdocs.org/model/dorsey-thomas-j-searey) (registry code 05614XW) (OpenAirDocs)
- Registry engine: [Amateur-built UNKNOWN ENG](https://openairdocs.org/engine/amateur-built-unknown-eng) (registry code 99999) (OpenAirDocs)
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1MK 295C
- Airframe hours: 216
- Engines: Rotax 914UL 115 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Glenn Louis Abbett
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: Condition, September 1, 2007, 199 hours before
- Departed: X55, Eustis, FL
- Destination: X04, Apopka, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 36; injuries: none; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, without waivers/limitations; last flight review January 1, 2008; seat: left; flight hours: 1,525 total, 14 in this make and model, 1,416 as pilot in command, 66 in the last 90 days, 21 in the last 30 days, 1 in the last 24 hours

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 0° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 52 °F
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
- Observed at: KLEE

## 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 20080329836839A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20080329836839A), Mar 29, 2008: Amtr SEAREY, Tavares, FL, Substantial damage. (-23) On March 29, 2008, at 1425 local time, a Searey, N202MT, registered to [privacy data omitted], landed in lake dora with the landing gear in the down…

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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