Seamax Aircraft Ltda SEAMAX M-22 accident near Dahlgren Center, Virginia, May 17, 2025
On May 17, 2025 at about 8:00 pm local time, a 2019 Seamax Aircraft Ltda SEAMAX M-22, registered N154RL, was substantially damaged in an accident during initial climb near Dahlgren Center, Virginia. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
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The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during the initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to take off with a known tailwind.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- May 17, 2025 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Dahlgren Center, Virginia · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Seamax Aircraft Ltda SEAMAX M-22, built 2019 · all SEAMAX M-22s on the register
- Registration
- N154RL · no longer on the register · serial 154
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
After three aborted upwind water takeoff attempts due to water washing over the cockpit area and obstructing the view, the pilot attempted a downwind takeoff that prevented the water from cresting over the cockpit. Video footage showed that, after what appeared to be a normal takeoff run, the airplane rotated and lifted off; however, during the initial climb the airplane appeared to struggle to ascend. The wings rocked back and forth as the airplane climbed to about 200 ft above the water surface. The pilot then made a left turn; shortly after, the left wing dropped, and the airplane abruptly descended in a left spiral until it impacted the water. On-board engine parameter data showed normal engine operation until the moment of impact. Postaccident airframe and engine examination did not reveal any preimpact malfunction or anomaly that would preclude normal operation or performance. While taking off with a tailwind and during the subsequent climb, the pilot likely failed to maintain adequate airspeed during the turn, which resulted in the exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall. The airplane’s low altitude prevented recovery.
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
- Loss of control in flight during initial climb defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Directional control › Attain/maintain not possible
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Airspeed › Not attained/maintained
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Angle of attack › Not attained/maintained
- Personnel issues › Psychological › Attention/monitoring › Task monitoring/vigilance › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Tailwind › Ability to respond/compensate
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, military, private
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter; rotorcraft: unmanned (suas)
- Flight time: 1,072 hours in all; 45 in this make and model; 23 in the last 90 days; 12 in the last 30 days; 696 as pilot in command; 0 on instruments
- Last flight review: June 13, 2023
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 263.6 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, May 15, 2025
- Maximum gross weight: 1,320 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rotax 912 iS (piston); 227 hours total
- Not recorded
The flight
- Destination: EZF Fredericksburg VA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 210° at 10 knots, gusting 23
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 61°F (16°C)
- Altimeter: 29.53 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from NYG, 16 miles away
Weather report (METAR): KNYG 171956Z 21010G23KT 10SM CLR 31/16 A2953 RMK AO2 PK WND 26027/1858 SLP002 T03060161
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
10 documents, released by the NTSB on March 18, 2026. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Video of Accident 1 | AVI file | Download |
| 3 | Video of Accident 2 | AVI file | Download |
| 4 | Examination Report | PDF, 10 pages | View Download |
| 5 | Maintenance Records Excerpts | PDF, 5 pages | View Download |
| 6 | Recorder Specialist E-mail Report | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 7 | Data Plots | PDF, 4 pages | View Download |
| 8 | Tabular Data Logs | data file | Download |
| 9 | Photo Array_wreckage and Examination | PDF, 8 pages | View Download |
| 10 | Evidence Control Form | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
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 documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, the folder of records gathered during the investigation, shown as the NTSB released them (the NTSB redacts some personal details first) and listed under the NTSB's own titles. This site's own text 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 ERA25LA203.