Ploof Progressive Aerodyne'S Searey accident near Lake Berryessa, California, October 25, 2007
On October 25, 2007 at about 8:00 pm local time, a Ploof Progressive Aerodyne'S Searey, registered N195LS, was substantially damaged in an accident near Lake Berryessa, California. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people had minor injuries. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane's encounter with a submerged object during landing in water, which resulted in the airplane nosing over.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 25, 2007 · about 8:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Berryessa, California
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people had minor injuries.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Ploof Progressive Aerodyne'S Searey
- Registration
- N195LS · registry record · serial 1MK195
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot conducted a normal approach in the amphibian for landing on Lake Berryessa. He configured the airplane with the landing gear up and the flaps set down 20 degrees for the water landing. While decelerating the airplane after landing, he heard a loud noise. The airplane nosed over and came to rest floating on it's back. The pilot opined the airplane impacted a submerged object, which caused the airplane to nose over. The pilot reported no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airframe or engine. The airplane sustained damage to the hull and right wing.
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: flight instructor, sport pilot
- Ratings: single-engine land; instructor: sport pilot
- Flight time: 400 hours in all; 62 in this make and model; 340 as pilot in command; 250 on instruments
- Last flight review: October 1, 2007
- Medical certificate: Class 3 (with waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: minor injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 109 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, September 1, 2007
- Maximum gross weight: 1,450 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 0 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 2Q3 Davis/Woodland CA at 8:15 pm
- Destination: NONE Lake Berryessa CA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: clear
- Temperature: 77°F (25°C), dew point 46°F (8°C)
- Altimeter: 29.90 inHg
- Observation at 2:53 am from VCB, 14 miles away
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.
Other NTSB records under N195LS the same tail number, which may have belonged to a different aircraft at the time
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.