Amateur-built SEAREY accident near Sanford, Florida, May 24, 2012
On May 24, 2012 at about 12:40 pm local time, a amateur-built SEAREY, registered N252JB, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Sanford, Florida (Orlando-Sanford International airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to ensure that the landing gear was retracted for the water landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 24, 2012 · about 12:40 pm local time
- Place
- Sanford, Florida · Orlando-Sanford International · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SEAREY
- Registration
- N252JB · no longer on the register · serial 1DK 062
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
According to the pilot, he departed from a hard-surfaced runway for a flight to, and touch-and-go landing on, a lake approximately about 3 miles away. The touchdown on the lake was normal, but immediately after making contact with the water, the airplane abruptly decelerated and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the nose and fuselage. Postaccident examination revealed that the landing gear was in the extended and locked position; however, the position of the landing gear switch at impact could not be confirmed because of possible movement during the shutdown and recovery. Initially, the pilot stated that he "forgot to put the wheels up." Later, he reported that he raised the gear after the departure. However, no preaccident mechanical malfunction or failures were found that would have precluded normal gear retraction for a water landing. Thus, based on the evidence that the airplane nosed over immediately after touchdown and that the landing gear was extended and locked after impact, it is likely that the landing gear was not retracted after takeoff.
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
- Landing gear not configured during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft systems › Landing gear system › Gear extension and retract sys › Incorrect use/operation
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Forgotten action/omission › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: private, sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,368 hours in all; 348 in this make and model; 58 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 1,240 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: September 27, 2010
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 429 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 20, 2012
- Maximum gross weight: 1,480 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 914 UL (piston); 0 hours total
- Operator: Moonbeam Leasing
The flight
- Departed from: SFB Sanford FL at 12:35 pm
- Destination: LEE Leesburg FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 050° at 4 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 79°F (26°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.92 inHg
- Observation at 12:45 pm from SFB, 3 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
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.
Other NTSB records under N252JB the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.