Amateur-built Searey accident near Dayton, Tennessee, August 27, 2004
On August 27, 2004 at about 1:00 am local time, a amateur-built Searey, registered N1209J, was substantially damaged in an accident near Dayton, Tennessee. It was an instructional flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The delamination of the fiberglass hull of the airplane.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 27, 2004 · about 1:00 am local time
- Place
- Dayton, Tennessee · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Searey
- Registration
- N1209J · no longer on the register · serial 1MK127
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Instructional flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the certified flight instructor, while practicing a series of glassy water landings. On the eight landing while on step the airplane pitched down violently and the airplane flipped over nose first, and came to rest inverted. According to the second pilot, after touchdown on the river, while on the step traveling at approximately 40 mph the nose of the airplane "jerked downward". The airplane then violently pitched down under the water, and the cockpit filled with water. No flight control or mechanical problems were reported by the pilot's prior to the accident. Examination of the airplane revealed that the hull of the airplane was delaminated. The nose of the airplane separated from the airframe assembly.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
Flight instructor
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instructor: airplane multi-engine; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 13,180 hours in all; 10 in this make and model; 125 in the last 90 days; 40 in the last 30 days; 11,055 as pilot in command; 6,800 on instruments
- Last flight review: December 12, 2002
- Medical certificate: Class 1 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: minor injuries
Pilot
- Certificate: flight instructor, commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: glider; instrument: airplane; rotorcraft: glider
- Flight time: 1,181 hours in all; 2 in this make and model; 132 in the last 90 days; 31 in the last 30 days; 1,111 as pilot in command; 169 on instruments
- Last flight review: February 2, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 143 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 7, 2004
- Maximum gross weight: 1,350 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Aero Engines 912UL (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Dayton TN at 7:30 pm
- Destination: Dayton TN
- Flight plan: none
- A second pilot was aboard
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 180° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 25,000 ft; a few clouds at 8,000 ft
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 68°F (20°C)
- Altimeter: 30.11 inHg
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), has not been read from the NTSB for this case yet; the list appears here once it has. Open the docket at the NTSB.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.