Amateur-built Searey accident near Lewisville, Texas, July 17, 2004
On July 17, 2004 at about 8:00 pm local time, a amateur-built Searey, registered N27VS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lewisville, Texas (Lakeview Airport). It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the airplane during final approach. A contributing factor was the gusty crosswind condition.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- July 17, 2004 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lewisville, Texas · Lakeview Airport · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built Searey
- Registration
- N27VS · registry record · serial KM27
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The 1,089-hour pilot reported that while on final approach to the west for a water landing, approximately treetop level, the airplane "flipped over to the left" to an inverted attitude. The pilot stated that after applying right rudder and right aileron, the airplane rolled upright just prior to impacting the water in a left low attitude. The pilot reported that at the time of the accident, the wind was gusty and from the north, approximately 15-20 knots.
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: private
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 1,089 hours in all; 294 in this make and model; 29 in the last 90 days; 20 in the last 30 days; 1,089 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: January 10, 2004
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (valid medical--no waivers/lim.)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 408 hours
- Last inspection: continuous airworthiness programme, April 1, 2004; 26 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Bombardier Rotax (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: Gordonville TX at 6:00 pm
- Destination: 30F Lewisville TX
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 15 knots, gusting 20
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 100°F (38°C), dew point 0°F (-18°C)
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 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.