# NTSB WPR09CA310: Weston SEA-ERA, N226SE, Bellevue, WA, June 24, 2009 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: June 24, 2009, 10:45 local (17:45 UTC) - Place: Bellevue, WA - Coordinates: 47.623889, -122.08139 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=47.6239&lon=-122.0814&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 10, 2009 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 74131 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR09CA310 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/74131/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74131 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR09CA310 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to maintain adequate airspeed during landing, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Performance/control parameters: airspeed](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Weston Paul H SEA-ERA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md?model=05624OJ), [All aircraft, 1,681 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062010/cases.md) - [Use of equip/info: aircraft control](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Weston Paul H SEA-ERA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md?model=05624OJ), [All aircraft, 9,295 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063040/cases.md) ## Sequence of events The events NTSB coded, in order, by phase of flight. The defining event best describes what happened. - [Landing: Aerodynamic stall/spin](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241) (defining event); cases with it: [Weston Paul H SEA-ERA, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md?model=05624OJ), [All aircraft, 1,529 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/241/sequence.md) - [Landing-flare/touchdown: Dragged wing/rotor/float/other](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093); cases with it: [Weston Paul H SEA-ERA, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md?model=05624OJ), [All aircraft, 319 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/093/sequence.md) ## Analysis The light sport aircraft student pilot was taking his experimental light sport seaplane for its second test flight. The student pilot reported that he reduced power without verifying the airplane's airspeed during the landing and the left wing dropped; the airplane subsequently touched down hard upon the water. Damage included composite material fractures on both vertical fins. The student pilot had about 32 hours total time and had been signed off by his certified flight instructor to fly a single-engine land light sport airplane. He was not signed off for solo flight in the accident airplane. The student pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions. ## Factual narrative The light sport aircraft student pilot was taking his experimental light sport seaplane for its second test flight. The student pilot reported that during the landing, he reduced power without verifying the airplane's airspeed and during the landing, the left wing dropped and the airplane touched down hard upon the water. Damage included composite material fractures on both vertical fins. The student pilot had about 32 hours total time and had been signed off by his certified flight instructor to fly a single-engine land light sport airplane. He was not signed off for solo flight in the accident airplane. The student pilot did not report any mechanical malfunctions. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N226SE](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N226SE-2022-08-27), registration cancelled 2022-08-27, S/N 001 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Weston SEA-ERA - Registry model: [Weston Paul H SEA-ERA](https://openairdocs.org/model/weston-paul-h-sea-era) (registry code 05624OJ) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 001 - Engines: Jabiru 2200 85 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Flight test, Part 91 - Operator: Paul H Weston - Registered owner: Paul H Weston - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: Bellevue, WA - Destination: Bellevue, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Student pilot; age 82; student; medical: sport pilot; flight hours: 32 total, 1 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: variable at 5 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 72 °F, dew point 52 °F - Altimeter: 29.79 inHg - Observed at: RNT, 5 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 20090624011269A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20090624011269A), Jun 24, 2009: Weston SEAERA, Redmond, WA, Substantial damage. (-23) While on final approach to landing at lake samammish, WA, the airacraft stalled at approximately 8 to 10 feet above the water. The aircraft struck the… ## Other investigations on N226SE (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 WPR13CA140](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR13CA140), Mar 4, 2013: Weston SEA-ERA (N226SE), Bellevue, WA, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot’s failure to maintain control during takeoff on choppy water conditions. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on July 8, 2009, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=74131. 923 KB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 799 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315701&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Redacted.PDF - Photo 1. Vertical Fin Damage (Provided by Police) (item 2, .PDF, 123 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40315709&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Photo%201.%20Vertical%20Fin%20Damage%20(Provided%20by%20Police)-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.