# NTSB MIA97LA053: Pacheco Searey, N91036, Key Biscayne, FL, December 31, 1996

- Type: NTSB accident investigation
- Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report
- Date: December 31, 1996, 10:20 local (15:20 UTC)
- Place: Key Biscayne, FL
- Coordinates: 25.679468, -80.160354 (estimated)
- Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=25.6795&lon=-80.1604&mi=10
- Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping)
- Highest injury: Minor injuries
- Injuries: 1 minor
- Status: Completed, report October 31, 1997
- Report: Approved by Office Director
- NTSB case key (mKey): 38197
- NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=MIA97LA053
- NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/38197/pdf
- Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/MIA97LA053

## Probable cause

failure of the pilot to retract the landing gear before landing the amphibious airplane in water.  The pilot's lack of experience/certification/training in seaplanes was a possible factor.

## Sequence of events

In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf).

- Wheels down landing in water, landing - flare/touchdown
  - gear retraction - not performed, pilot in command (cause)
  - lack of total experience in kind of aircraft, pilot in command (contributing factor)
- Nose over, landing

## Analysis

After takeoff, the pilot recognized that the oil temperature was increasing. He elected to land the amphibious airplane on water, but inadvertently landed with the landing gear extended. The pilot did not hold a seaplane rating at the time of the accident.

## Factual narrative

On December 31, 1996, about 1020 eastern standard time, a homebuilt amphibious Searay, N91036, registered to a private individual, nosed over on landing on the Intercoastal waterway near Key Biscayne, Florida.  Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time and no flight plan was filed for the 14 CFR Part 91 personal flight.  The airline transport-rated pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries.  The flight originated about 0930 from the Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

The pilot stated that after takeoff he recognized that the oil temperature was increasing.  He elected to perform a precautionary landing on the water at the accident location because friends lived nearby and inadvertently landed with the landing gear extended.  The airplane nosed over after touchdown.  The pilot did not hold a seaplane class rating at the time of the accident.

## Aircraft

- Registration: N91036 (not matched to a registry record)
- Reported make and model: Pacheco SEAREY
- Category: Airplane, amateur-built
- Serial number: 1MK097
- Airframe hours: 51
- Engines: Rotax 912A 85 horsepower reciprocating
- Damage: Substantial damage
- Flight: Personal, Part 91
- Registered owner: Luis F. Pacheco
- Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special)
- Last inspection: 100 hour, July 10, 1996, 51 hours before
- Departed: FXE, FT LAUDERDALE, FL

## Flight crew

As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names.

- Pilot; age 41; airline transport, commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land, multi-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, expired; seat: left; flight hours: 4,501 total, 51 in this make and model, 3,751 as pilot in command

## Weather

- Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day
- Wind: 90° at 8 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Lowest ceiling: none
- Temperature: 81 °F, dew point 64 °F
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observed at: MIA

## 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 19961231040899A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19961231040899A), Dec 31, 1996: Amtr SEAREY, Key Biscayne, FL, Substantial damage. Nosed over during water landing. Landing gear was extended. Pilot failed check gear position. (-23) a homebuilt amphibious Searey nosed over on landing on a…

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.