# NTSB NYC98LA054: Mayers SEA REY, N100RZ, Gloucester, VA, December 26, 1997 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Minor injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: December 26, 1997, 14:15 local (19:15 UTC) - Place: Gloucester, VA - Coordinates: 37.430034, -76.539657 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=37.4300&lon=-76.5397&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: Minor injuries - Injuries: 1 minor - Status: Completed, report February 29, 2000 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB case key (mKey): 39523 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=NYC98LA054 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/39523/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/NYC98LA054 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain aircraft control during landing, which resulted in a nose over. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Nose over, landing - roll - aircraft control - not maintained, pilot in command (cause) ## Analysis The pilot was conducting a touch-and-go landing on a river when the experimentally certificated, amphibious airplane nosed over. The next thing the pilot knew he was hanging upside down in the water. He exited the airplane, and stood on the wing waiting for help. Before he could be rescued the airplane sank, and the pilot swam ashore. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions. The pilot did not have a single engine sea rating. Federal Aviation Regulations exempt pilots of experimental aircraft from the requirements of possessing a rating in the category of aircraft they are operating. ## Factual narrative On December 26, 1997, about 1415 eastern standard time, N100RZ, a homebuilt Sea Rey amphibian airplane, was substantially damaged when it impacted water near Gloucester, Virginia. The certificated private pilot received minor injuries. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed for the personal flight that departed West Point, Virginia, and was operated under 14 CFR Part 91. The pilot reported he was doing his eighth touch-and-go landing, and that everything was normal until the airplane nosed over. The pilot then found himself hanging upside down in the water. He exited the airplane, stood on the wing and waited for help. Before he could be rescued, the airplane sank, and he swam ashore. The pilot reported no mechanical malfunctions. According to FAA records, the pilot did not have a single engine sea rating. Federal Aviation Regulation 61.31 (k) Exceptions, states "(1) This section does not require a category and class rating for aircraft not type certificated as airplanes, rotorcraft, or lighter-than-air aircraft, or a class rating for gliders or powered-lifts. (2) The rating limitations of this section do not apply to ...(iii) The holder of a pilot certificate when operating an aircraft under the authority of an experimental or provisional aircraft type certificate..." ## Aircraft - Registration: [N100RZ](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N100RZ-2000-08-10), registration cancelled 2000-08-10, S/N 1MK-100 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mayers SEA REY - Registry model: [Mayers Jerry SEA REY](https://openairdocs.org/model/mayers-jerry-sea-rey) (registry code 05602NU) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1MK-100 - Engines: Rotax 912 80 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Registered owner: Jerry Mayers - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Last inspection: Annual, February 1, 1996 - Departed: JGG, WEST POINT, VA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 43; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; seat: right; flight hours: 235 total, 165 in this make and model, 171 as pilot in command, 9 in the last 90 days, 5 in the last 30 days, 2 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 360° at 4 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 55 °F, dew point 39 °F - Altimeter: 29.00 inHg - Observed at: ORF, 40 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 19971226039399A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/19971226039399A), Dec 26, 1997: Amtr SEARAY, Gloucester, VA, Substantial damage. Aircraft nosed over and sank in river after striking an unidentified object in river. Pilot was not seaplane rated. (.19) on December 26, 1997, about 1415… ## Other investigations on N100RZ (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 IAD99LA044](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/IAD99LA044), May 22, 1999: Mayers SEA REY (N100RZ), Ashland, VA, destroyed. Probable cause: was a loss of engine power for undetermined reasons. 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.