Amateur-built SEA REY accident near Tulsa, Oklahoma, August 1, 2000
On August 1, 2000 at about 3:00 pm local time, a amateur-built SEA REY, registered N817R, was substantially damaged in an accident near Tulsa, Oklahoma. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 1 person was seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The loss of control by the pilot due to incapacitation for unknown reasons.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 4, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 1, 2000 · about 3:00 pm local time
- Place
- Tulsa, Oklahoma · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 1 person was seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SEA REY
- Registration
- N817R · no longer on the register · serial IDK198
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that during cruise flight at 1,100 to 1,200 msl in the vicinity of a lake, she 'blacked out' and that she had 'no pre-warning of impending danger physical or otherwise.' The experimental amphibious airplane impacted the lake and came to rest floating upside down in the water. Review of the pilot's medical records revealed the pilot had a heart condition diagnosed as PSVT (paroxysmal supraventricular tachcardia), and for over ten years had experienced episodes of symptomatic atrial fibrillation. At the time of the accident, the pilot's experience was consistent with a transient ischemic attack (TIA or 'mini-stroke') as a result of a clot that formed in her heart. Such clots typically form during periods of atrial fibrillation and are propelled into the brain when the heart resumes beating normally again. The pilot had not complied with physician instructions regarding the use of medication. On her FAA medical certificate applications (third class and second class), the pilot had not provided a complete medical history.
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
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: airplane single-engine; instructor: instrument airplane; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 911 hours in all; 36 in this make and model; 41 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (valid medical--w/ waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 27 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, June 30, 2000; 12 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rotax 912S (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: RVS OK at 1:45 pm
- Flight plan: none
- Runway 0
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 7 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; clear
- Temperature: 73°F (23°C), dew point 70°F (21°C)
- Altimeter: 30.00 inHg
- Observation at 1:53 pm from TUL, 15 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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.
Other NTSB records under N817R the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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 FTW00LA222.