Progressive Aerodyne INC SEAREY LSA accident near Tavares, Florida, April 10, 2014
On April 10, 2014 at about 3:00 pm local time, a 2014 Progressive Aerodyne INC SEAREY LSA, registered N657G, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (flare/touchdown) near Tavares, Florida. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's improper landing flare resulting in a bounced landing and his delay in performing a go around which resulted in a collision with trees.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- April 10, 2014 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Tavares, Florida · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person had minor injuries; 1 other was unhurt.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Progressive Aerodyne INC SEAREY LSA, built 2014 · all SEAREY LSAs on the register
- Registration
- N657G · registry record · serial 1004
- 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 positioned his airplane to land in an area on a lake with light ripples. During the landing attempt, the airplane bounced and the pilot attempted to continue the landing instead of immediately initiating a go around. The pilot stated that he then elected to perform a go around; however, there was not enough room to clear the trees at the end of the lake. The airplane subsequently impacted the tree line and came to rest. Post-accident examination of the airplane revealed that both wing leading edges and the empennage incurred substantial damage. The pilot did not report any pre-impact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown) defining event
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (aborted after touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Landing flare › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Action › Delayed action › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Action/decision › Info processing/decision › Decision making/judgment › Pilot
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Tree(s) › Contributed to outcome
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 12,000 hours in all; 40 in the last 90 days; 12,000 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: April 1, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 55 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, January 7, 2014; 55 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 914 (piston); 55 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Apopka FL at 2:00 pm
- Destination: Tavares FL
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 72°F (22°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.30 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 pm from LEE, 5 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flig | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
About this page
Everything above comes from the NTSB's public accident database: the narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words, and the coded tables behind its report (pilot, aircraft, flight, weather, injuries, sequence of events) are written out in plain English. Pilots' ages, home towns and medical details are left out on purpose. The docket at the NTSB holds the report as a PDF and the investigation's photographs and documents. This site never names pilots, passengers or anyone else involved. A preliminary report describes what is known soon after the event and can change; the final report, with the probable cause, usually follows one to two years later and this page is refreshed when it does. Case number ERA14CA190.