Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Morganton, North Carolina 28655
Wednesday, May 17, 2000 19:30 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

The pilot stated that after takeoff he performed airwork then flew towards Lake James and landed on the water that had 2-3 inch ripples. After touchdown he climbed about 1 foot above the water then elected to land on the water where he planned a full stop landing. After the second landing, he reduced the throttle control and noted that the airplane immediately nosed over. He further stated that this was his first time landing on the water after building the airplane. Post accident examination of the airplane by the pilot revealed that the main and tail wheel were retracted. He also stated that the throttle was stiff and when he retarded the throttle, he may have pushed on the yoke.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The inadvertent forward elevator input by the pilot-in-command while reducing throttle control resulting in the airplane nose-over.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/17/2000
Event Day of the Week Wednesday
Time of Event 1930
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City MORGANTON
Event State NORTH CAROLINA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 28655
Event Date Year 2000
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude --
Event Location Longitude --
Event Location Airport
Event Location Nearest Airport ID
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles --
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation --
Weather Briefing Completeness Unknown
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 1900 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 0
Weather Observation Facility ID MRN
Elevation of weather observation facility 1270
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 0
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height 0
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height 11000
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Scattered
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) 0
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) 0
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 25
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 18
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 230
Variable Wind Indicator Unknown
Wind Speed (knots) 5
Wind Velocity Indicator Unknown
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) 0
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 30
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation Unknown
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury Minor
On Ground, Fatal Injuries 0
On Ground, Minor Injuries 0
On Ground, Serious Injuries 0
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor 1
Injury Total None --
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All 1
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 465
NTSB Notification Source ATLANTA COMM CENTER
NTSB Notification Date May 17 2000 12:00AM
NTSB Notification Time 2158
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information IMAGE
Date of most recent change to record May 25 2001 4:45AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N8096A
NTSB Number MIA00LA160
Missing Aircraft Indicator N
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? --
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name Daniel A. Shapiro
Aircraft Model SEAREY 1DK
Aircraft Series Identifier SEAREY 1DK
Aircraft Serial Number 104
Certified Max Gross Weight 1370
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class U.S. Registered/U.S. Soil
Aircraft is a homebuilt? Yes
Flight Crew Seats --
Cabin Crew Seats --
Passenger Seats --
Total number of seats on the aircraft 2
Number of Engines 1
Fixed gear or retractable gear Fixed
Aircraft, Type of Last Inspection Unknown
Date of Last Inspection May 8 2000 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection 8
Airframe Hours 8
ELT Installed No
ELT Activated Unknown
ELT Aided Location of Event Site Unknown
ELT Type --
Aircraft Owner Name DANIEL A. SHAPIRO
Aircraft Owner Street Address 111 TERRACE PLACE
Aircraft Owner City MORGANTON
Aircraft Owner State NC
Aircraft Owner Country
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 28655
Operator is an individual? --
Operator Name
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address
Operator City
Operator State
Operator Country
Operator Zip code
Operator Code
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation Unknown
Operator Certificate Number --
Indicates whether an air carrier operation was scheduled or not --
Indicates Domestic or International Flight --
Operator carrying Pax/Cargo/Mail --
Type of Flying (Per_Bus / Primary) Personal
Second Pilot on Board No
Departure Point Same as Event No
Departure Airport Code 3NC0
Departure City MORGANTON
Departure State NC
Departure Country
Departure Time 1830
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt crash at destination city
Destination Airport Code NONE
Destination City
Destination State
Destination Country
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record May 25 2001 4:10AM
User who most recently changed record dbo
Since inspection or accident --
Event Location Runway Number and Location 0
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --