Landing / Ground Loss of Control · NTSB WPR19LA054

Progressive Aerodyne SEAREY — Sacramento, CA

1 fatal
DateJanuary 2, 2019
LocationSacramento, CA
AircraftProgressive Aerodyne SEAREY (amateur-built)
Purpose of flightPersonal
ConditionsDay · Visual Meteorological Cond
Phase / occurrenceLanding-flare/touchdown Nose over/nose down
Pilot age63
Pilot total time770 hrs · Building experience
Time in typeUnknown
Fatalities1

Probable cause

The pilot's failure to properly configure the landing gear before performing a water landing.

NTSB findings

  • Personnel issues-Action/decision-Action-Forgotten action/omission-Pilot - C
  • Personnel issues-Psychological-Attention/monitoring-Attention-Pilot - C

What happened

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 He then flew the airplane to a river; during the approach for landing, he announced that the gear was retracted but did not visually confirm it, and the airplane subsequently landed in the river with the landing gear extended.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.

An editorial "what led to it / how to avoid it" analysis for this accident is generated separately and will appear here.

View the official NTSB docket →