# NTSB WPR14LA112: Weinzierl Searey, N669DT, Stanwood, WA, January 27, 2014 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Limited investigation · Final report - Date: January 26, 2014, 16:15 local (Jan 27, 2014, 00:15 UTC) - Place: Stanwood, WA - Coordinates: 48.140834, -122.296943 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=48.1408&lon=-122.2969&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 2 uninjured - Status: Completed, report September 24, 2014 - Report: Approved by Office Director - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: Federal Aviation Administration - NTSB case key (mKey): 88773 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR14LA112 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/88773/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88773 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR14LA112 ## Probable cause The noncertificated pilot’s failure to maintain clearance from water while maneuvering at a low altitude over glassy water conditions, which adversely affected his depth perception. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Use of equip/info: use of equip/system](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015): Personnel issues › Task performance · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Weinzierl Kevin SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md?model=05903B5), [All aircraft, 1,391 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02063015/cases.md) - [Performance/control parameters: altitude](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012): Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability · Not attained/maintained (probable cause); cases with it: [Weinzierl Kevin SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md?model=05903B5), [All aircraft, 1,310 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/01062012/cases.md) - [Terrain: water](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020): Environmental issues › Physical environment · Contributed to outcome; cases with it: [Weinzierl Kevin SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/03021020/cases.md?model=05903B5), [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. - [Maneuvering-low-alt flying: Collision with terr/obj (non-CFIT) ](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470); cases with it: [Weinzierl Kevin SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md?model=05903B5), [All aircraft, 10,189 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/470/sequence.md) - [Landing: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Weinzierl Kevin SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=05903B5), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The noncertificated pilot reported that, following an uneventful local sightseeing flight, he conducted a low pass over a lake with glassy water conditions; he did not intend to land. The pilot thought the airplane was about 3 or 4 feet above the water when it suddenly skimmed the water's surface. The pilot pulled up, but the airplane subsequently nosed down into the water, and it became partially submerged. It is likely that the glassy water conditions adversely affected the pilot's depth perception, which led to his subsequent failure to judge the height above the water and resulted in the inadvertent touchdown. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Factual narrative On January 26, 2014, about 1615 Pacific standard time, an experimental amateur built light sport Weinzierl Searey amphibious airplane, N669DT, was substantially damaged during an inadvertent water landing near Stanwood, Washington. The airplane was registered to and operated by the pilot under the provisions of Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91. The non-certified pilot and his passenger were not injured. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed and no flight plan was filed for the local personal flight which originated from Arlington, Washington about 1500. In a written statement and telephone conversation, the pilot reported to the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigator-in-charge (IIC) that following a local sightseeing flight, he intended on conducting a low pass over Lake Goodwin prior to returning to Arlington. The pilot verified the landing gear was in the retracted position and that glassy water conditions were present before he performed a low pass with no intent to perform a landing. The pilot thought that he was about 3 to 4 feet above the water surface when the airplane suddenly skimmed the water surface for about 3 seconds. The pilot pulled up and the nose immediately went into the water. The pilot stated that water immediately began flowing into the cockpit area. The pilot added that the airplane was partially submerged about 3 to 5 seconds later. The NTSB IIC reviewed postaccident photos taken by a private individual about an hour after the accident occurred. The photos revealed that a majority of the bottom side of the hull was separated. The pilot reported no preaccident mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N669DT](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N669DT), registered now, S/N 81MK04906, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: WEINZIERL SEAREY - Registry model: [Weinzierl Kevin SEAREY](https://openairdocs.org/model/weinzierl-kevin-searey) (registry code 05903B5) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 912UL series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-912ul-series) (registry code 55571, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 81MK04906 - Year built: 2007 - Airframe hours: 379 - Engines: Rotax 912UL 100 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental light sport (Special) - Last inspection: Condition, December 27, 2013, 7 hours before - Departed: AWO, Arlington, WA - Destination: AWO, Arlington, WA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 50; injuries: none; seat: left; flight hours: 65 in this make and model ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 290° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.14 inHg - Observed at: KAWO, 6 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 20140126000769A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20140126000769A), Jan 26, 2014: Weinzierl Kevin SEAREY, Snohomish, WA, Substantial damage. As reported to FAA by marysville fire district, aircraft crashed into lake goodwin near Snohomish WA for undetermined reasons. Attempts to acquire statement… ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on April 22, 2014, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=88773. 1.0 MB in all. - Pilot/Operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 (item 1, .PDF, 987 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411376&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Pilot%2FOperator%20Aircraft%20Accident%20Report,%20NTSB%20Form%206120.1-Master.PDF - Record of Conversation - Pilot (item 2, .PDF, 48 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=40411377&FileExtension=.PDF&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20-%20Pilot-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.