Amateur-built SEAREY accident near Rotonda West, Florida, September 28, 2025
On September 28, 2025 at about 3:26 pm local time, a 2004 amateur-built SEAREY, registered N2090S, was substantially damaged in an accident during enroute near Rotonda West, Florida. 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 NTSB has not yet published a probable cause for this accident. Investigations usually take one to two years; this page updates when the final report is released.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- September 28, 2025 · about 3:26 pm local time
- Place
- Rotonda West, Florida · 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 2004
- Registration
- N2090S · registry record · serial 1MK316C
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative preliminary · quoted from the NTSB record
On September 28, 2025, at 1126 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Searey, N2090S, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Stump Pass, Florida. The private pilot sustained minor injuries. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. The pilot reported that the preflight, taxi, and takeoff were all normal with no observed anomalies. After departing from Manatee Airport, Palmetto, Florida, the pilot stated he flew for about an hour and a half in the local area. While flying north along the beach at about 300 ft above ground level, the pilot reported that the engine RPM dropped to about idle. The pilot pushed the nose down, pushed the throttle to maximum, and turned on the second fuel boost pump. The pilot reported there was no change in RPM and the engine continued to operate at idle. The pilot determined he would be unable to make it back to an airport and so he performed a forced landing in choppy water. During the landing, the airplane’s nose impacted a wave. A postaccident examination revealed that the airplane sustained substantial damage to the fuselage and to the horizontal stabilizer. The wreckage was retained for further examination.
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 engine power (partial) during enroute defining event
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 1,330 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, November 30, 2024; 118 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
The flight
- Departed from: 48X Palmetto FL at 2:10 pm
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 040° at 9 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 88°F (31°C), dew point 72°F (22°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from KPGD, 18 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KPGD 281553Z 04009KT 10SM CLR 31/22 A2990 RMK AO2 SLP125 T03110222=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
The NTSB has not released the docket for this case yet. The docket, the folder of records gathered during an investigation (maintenance records, photographs, witness statements, examinations), is usually released when the investigation is nearly complete, and the list here is refreshed when it appears. Check 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.