The U.S. aircraft register, updated daily
Accidents · NTSB CEN14LA504 · Final report

Amateur-built SEAWIND 3000 accident near Bloomington, Indiana, September 18, 2014

On September 18, 2014 at about 4:45 pm local time, a 2007 amateur-built SEAWIND 3000, registered N516SW, was destroyed in an accident during enroute near Bloomington, Indiana (Monroe County Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were killed. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).

The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged

An in-flight fire for reasons that could not be determined because the examination of the airplane did not reveal the source of the fire.

Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.

What the record shows

Date
September 18, 2014 · about 4:45 pm local time
Place
Bloomington, Indiana · Monroe County Airport · map
Type
Accident
Injuries
2 people were killed.
Weather
visual conditions (good weather)
Aircraft
Amateur-built SEAWIND 3000, built 2007
Registration
N516SW · no longer on the register · serial 061
Damage
Destroyed
Flight
Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)

The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record

The pilot and one passenger were on a cross-country flight in a single-engine amphibian airplane. The pilot reported to an airport tower air traffic controller that the airplane had a low fuel pressure indication and that he planned to fly directly to the airport. However, the airplane impacted terrain about 3 miles north of the airport. One witness reported seeing the airplane on fire before it crashed. A postcrash fire consumed most of the composite-frame airplane. An examination of the engine's accessories was not performed due to fire and thermal damage. Although the engine sustained fire damage, compression and continuity through the engine drive train was established, and no preimpact abnormalities were noted. A section of an alternator cable and a section of a fuel line that had signatures consistent with fraying and thermal damage, respectively, were examined to determine if chafing and electrical arcing had occurred between them. However, the examined sections exhibited no evidence of chafing and arcing. The accident is consistent with an in-flight fire; however, the source of the fire could not be determined because the examination did not reveal any preimpact abnormities.

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

What happened, in order

  1. Unknown or undetermined during enroute
  2. Fire/smoke (non-impact) during enroute defining event
  3. Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during emergency descent
  4. Fire/smoke (post-impact) during post (impact)

The NTSB's findings

  • cause Not determined › Not determined › (general) › (general) › Unknown/Not determined

Pilot

  • Certificate: private
  • Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
  • Flight time: 765 hours in all
  • Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
  • Seat: unk
  • Injury: fatal

Passenger

  • Seat: unk
  • Injury: fatal

The aircraft

  • Last inspection: inspection type not recorded
  • Landing gear: retractable
  • Engine: Lycoming IO-540-K1A5 (piston); 0 hours total
  • Fire in flight and on the ground

The flight

  • Departed from: KMSN Madison WI
  • Destination: KBMG Bloomington IN
  • Flight plan: none

Weather at the time

  • Light: daylight
  • Wind: from 110° at 4 knots
  • Visibility: 10 statute miles
  • Sky: clear
  • Temperature: 68°F (20°C), dew point 50°F (10°C)
  • Altimeter: 30.09 inHg
  • Observation at 4:53 pm from KBMG

Injuries

FatalSeriousMinorNone
Flight crew1
Passengers1

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.