Progressive Aerodyne INC SeaRey accident near Lake Isabel, Washington, October 15, 2022
On October 15, 2022 at about 10:00 pm local time, a 2006 Progressive Aerodyne INC SeaRey, an amateur-built aircraft,, registered N129KB, was substantially damaged in an accident during takeoff near Lake Isabel, Washington. 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 pilot’s loss of airplane control after an encounter with windshear during takeoff which, resulted in a hard water landing.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- October 15, 2022 · about 10:00 pm local time
- Place
- Lake Isabel, Washington · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- No one was hurt; 1 person was on board or involved.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Progressive Aerodyne INC SeaRey, built 2006, amateur-built
- Registration
- N129KB · no longer on the register · serial 1DK287C
- 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 reported that, during the tailwind departure from the mountain lake, the airplane was about 40 ft above water level, at an airspeed of 57 miles per hour (mph), when the airplane encountered windshear. The airspeed decreased suddenly by 10-15 mph and the airplane entered a 600 foot per minute descent rate that the airplane was unable to out climb with takeoff power. The airplane subsequently collided hard with the water and bounced before coming to rest. The wings and fuselage were substantially damaged. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident 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
- Loss of control in flight during takeoff defining event
- Windshear or thunderstorm during takeoff
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during uncontrolled descent
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Windshear › Effect on operation
Pilot
- Certificate: commercial pilot, military, private, sport pilot
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane
- Flight time: 1,277 hours in all; 34 in this make and model; 46 in the last 90 days; 16 in the last 30 days; 523 as pilot in command; 276 on instruments
- Last flight review: August 12, 2022
- Medical certificate: Class 1
- Seat: left
- Injury: no injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 151 hours
- Last inspection: condition inspection, October 12, 2022; 4 hours since
- Maximum gross weight: 1,370 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: retractable
- Engine: Rotax 912ULS (piston); 151 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: 74S Anacortes WA at 6:30 pm
- Destination: Lake Gold Bar WA
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 360° at 6 knots
- Visibility: 2 statute miles
- Sky: overcast at 3,500 ft
- Temperature: 63°F (17°C), dew point 48°F (9°C)
- Altimeter: 30.02 inHg
- Observation at 11:53 am from KPAE, 28 miles away
Weather report (METAR): METAR KPAE 151853Z 36006KT 2SM FU OVC035 17/09 A3002 RMK AO2 SLP163 T01670094=
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 |
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
1 document, released by the NTSB on December 30, 2022. 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, 13 pages | 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.