Amateur-built SEAREY accident near Augusta, Kentucky, August 15, 2015
On August 15, 2015 at about 8:30 pm local time, a 2001 amateur-built SEAREY, registered N831CM, was substantially damaged in an accident during landing (landing roll) near Augusta, Kentucky. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The amphibious airplane's impact with a submerged object during a water landing, which resulted in a nose over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 15, 2015 · about 8:30 pm local time
- Place
- Augusta, Kentucky · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 2 people were on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Amateur-built SEAREY NO SERIES, built 2001
- Registration
- N831CM · no longer on the register · serial 1DK150
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot of the amphibious airplane stated that after a normal touchdown on a river, "5-10 seconds later we were upside down." The pilot and passenger were able to exit the airplane into the water and a nearby boater came to their assistance. The pilot stated that he believed he struck a submerged object in the water. According to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aviation Safety Inspector (ASI), the right side of the airplane showed evidence that the airplane struck an object submerged in the water. The FAA ASI also reported that he was informed of numerous recreational boats striking debris near the accident site earlier in the day. The fuselage sustained substantial damage. The pilot stated there were no mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
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
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during landing (landing roll)
- Loss of control on ground during landing (landing roll) defining event
- Nose over/nose down during landing (landing roll)
The NTSB's findings
- cause Environmental issues › Physical environment › Object/animal/substance › Hidden/submerged object › Effect on equipment
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; single-engine sea
- Flight time: 2,210.1 hours in all; 70 in this make and model; 17.7 in the last 90 days; 10.1 in the last 30 days
- Last flight review: April 16, 2014
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 90.7 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, April 22, 2015
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Bombardier Rotax (piston); 91 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: OI57 Hamersville OH at 8:00 pm
- Destination: None Augusta KY
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 250° at 3 knots
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: scat at 3,700 ft
- Temperature: 82°F (28°C), dew point 64°F (18°C)
- Altimeter: 30.15 inHg
- Observation at 6:45 pm from KI69, 12 miles away
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
4 documents, released by the NTSB on October 1, 2015. 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, 9 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Record of Conversation (FAA Inpsector) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 3 | Record of Conversation (Pilot in Command) | PDF, 1 page | View Download |
| 4 | Photo 1 (Courtesy of FAA) | 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.
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.