Amateur-built SEAREY accident near Corbin, Kentucky, July 16, 2015
On July 16, 2015 at about 10:51 pm local time, a 1997 amateur-built SEAREY, registered N236JY, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Corbin, Kentucky. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s improper conduct of a precautionary landing, which resulted in abnormal water contact that damaged the hull.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 16, 2015 · about 10:51 pm local time
- Place
- Corbin, Kentucky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SEAREY, built 1997
- Registration
- N236JY · registry record · serial 1DK085
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The student pilot/owner stated that he intended on flying to a nearby lake to perform water landings and takeoffs in the amphibious airplane. The pilot reported that, during cruise flight, either the water/coolant or oil temperature reading indicated 235 degrees F, which he believed was above the normal reading. Due to a lack of suitable terrain between the airplane's position at that time and the departure point, he chose to perform a precautionary landing on a nearby lake. The pilot reported that the landing was normal, but a witness reported seeing a large plume of water at touchdown engulf the airplane, which is not consistent with a normal landing. The pilot reported that, about 100 ft after touchdown on the water, the airplane's hull hit a submerged object, which damaged it and allowed water to enter the airplane. Postrecovery examination of the flight controls and of the engine and its cooling system components revealed no evidence of a preimpact failure or malfunction. Examination of the airplane revealed cracks in the hull above the left and right main landing gear and numerous stress fractures and outer fiberglass separations with no evidence of punctures or solid-impact signatures. Although the airplane's attitude and configuration at impact could not be determined, the airplane damage was consistent with either touchdown in an excessively nose-down attitude or with the landing gear extended. Although the previous owner reported that the airplane had previously experienced issues related to the cooling system, the issues were attributed to operating the engine with low or no coolant in the engine or expansion tank; postaccident examination of the coolant system revealed that there was sufficient coolant in the expansion tank and overflow bottle. Further, examination of the engine revealed that it had a sufficient oil level.
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
- Miscellaneous/other during enroute defining event
- Abnormal runway contact during landing (flare/touchdown)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Aircraft capability › (general) › Capability exceeded
- cause Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › (general) › Not attained/maintained
- cause Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Use of equip/system › Pilot
Pilot
- Certificate: student
- Flight time: 115 hours in all; 25 in this make and model; 115 as pilot in command
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 193.6 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, June 1, 2015; 29 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,430 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912UL (piston); 212 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: LOZ London KY at 10:21 pm
- Destination: Lake Cumberland KY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 010° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 84°F (29°C), dew point 63°F (17°C)
- Altimeter: 30.01 inHg
- Observation at 10:53 pm from LOZ
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 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.
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.