# NTSB WPR19LA054: Progressive Aerodyne Searey, N24YD, Sacramento, CA, January 2, 2019 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · Fatal · Class 3 · Limited · Final report - Date: January 2, 2019, 11:30 local (19:30 UTC) - Place: Sacramento, CA - Coordinates: 38.600833, -121.503334 (estimated) - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=38.6008&lon=-121.5033&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Landing](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/550) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Defining event: [Landing-flare/touchdown: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) - Highest injury: Fatal - Injuries: 1 fatal, 1 minor - Status: Completed - Report: Approved by Office Director - Investigation class: Class 3 - NTSB office: Western Pacific Region - Parties: FAA FSDO - NTSB case key (mKey): 98824 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=WPR19LA054 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/98824/pdf - NTSB docket: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98824 - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/WPR19LA054 ## Probable cause The pilot's failure to properly configure the landing gear before performing a water landing. ## Findings NTSB's coded findings; those marked are part of the probable cause. - [Action: forgotten action/omission](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035): Personnel issues › Action/decision · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Jarrett David SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md?model=056226I), [All aircraft, 440 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02041035/cases.md) - [Attention/monitoring: attention](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510): Personnel issues › Psychological · Pilot (probable cause); cases with it: [Jarrett David SEAREY, 1 case](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/cases.md?model=056226I), [All aircraft, 226 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-findings/02021510/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: Nose over/nose down](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096) (defining event); cases with it: [Jarrett David SEAREY, 2 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md?model=056226I), [All aircraft, 2,287 cases](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-events/096/sequence.md) ## Analysis The pilot of the amphibious experimental airplane reported that, after takeoff from a runway, he became distracted and forgot to retract the landing gear. He then flew the airplane to a river; during the approach for landing, he announced that the gear was retracted but did not visually confirm it, and the airplane subsequently landed in the river with the landing gear extended. After touchdown, the airplane immediately nosed down and partially sank. ## Factual narrative On January 2, 2019, about 1130 Pacific standard time, an experimental Progressive Aerodyne Searey amphibious airplane, N24YD, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Sacramento, California. The private pilot received minor injuries and the passenger succumbed to injuries sustained in the accident 14 days later. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. During a telephone conversation, the pilot reported that he had departed from Napa County Airport (APC), Napa, California, about 1050 with the intent of landing on the American River. After takeoff, he became distracted when he heard another airplane taking off in his direction and he forgot to retract the landing gear. When he arrived at the river, he conducted a normal approach and extended the flaps to 20°. He verbally announced that the landing gear was retracted, but he did not visually confirm it. Just before touchdown, the pilot realized that the landing gear had not been retracted, and the airplane touched down on the water with the gear extended. The airplane nosed down and became partially submerged. The pilot reported that he experienced difficulty egressing the airplane and was not able to egress until after it had partially sank. He then extracted the passenger from the airplane. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N24YD](https://openairdocs.org/aircraft/N24YD), registered now, S/N 1DK427C, built 2007 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Progressive Aerodyne SEAREY (No Series) - Registry model: [Jarrett David SEAREY](https://openairdocs.org/model/jarrett-david-searey) (registry code 056226I) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Rotax 914 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/rotax-914-series) (registry code 55575, 4 cycle) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane, amateur-built - Serial number: 1DK427C - Year built: 2007 - Engines: Rotax 914 reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Special, Experimental (Special) - Departed: APC, Napa, CA - Destination: Sacramento, CA ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 63; injuries: minor; private; airplane ratings: single-engine land, single-engine sea; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 3, with waivers/limitations; flight hours: 770 total ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Day - Wind: 180° at 3 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 46 °F, dew point 37 °F - Altimeter: 30.27 inHg - Observed at: SMF ## 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 20190102000069A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20190102000069A), Jan 2, 2019: Jarrett David SEAREY, Sacramento, CA, Substantial damage, 1 fatal. Searey amateur-built experimental aircraft/boat departed from napa (kapc), one pilot, one passenger, VMC flight. While sightseeing around the Sacramento area,… ## Other investigations on N24YD (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 LAX08CA220](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/LAX08CA220), Jul 9, 2008: David Jarrett Searey (N24YD), Ennis Lake, MT, substantial damage. Probable cause: The pilot's failure to retract the landing gear prior to landing on the water. ## Docket (2 files) The files NTSB released with the investigation on October 9, 2020, on NTSB's docket system: https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket?ProjectID=98824. 194 KB in all. - Record of conversation (item 1, PDF, 2 pages, 52 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9962615&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Record%20of%20Conversation%20Hezmalhalch-Rel.pdf - Photo (item 2, PDF, 1 page, 143 KB): https://data.ntsb.gov/Docket/Document/docBLOB?ID=9961624&FileExtension=pdf&FileName=Photos-Rel.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.