Orlando-Sanford International Airport
Aircraft Accident/Incident Report

Sanford, Florida 32773
Thursday, May 24, 2012 8:40 EDT

NTSB Narrative Summary Released at Completion of Accident

According to the pilot, he departed from a hard-surfaced runway for a flight to, and touch-and-go landing on, a lake approximately about 3 miles away. The touchdown on the lake was normal, but immediately after making contact with the water, the airplane abruptly decelerated and nosed over. The airplane sustained substantial damage to the nose and fuselage. Postaccident examination revealed that the landing gear was in the extended and locked position; however, the position of the landing gear switch at impact could not be confirmed because of possible movement during the shutdown and recovery. Initially, the pilot stated that he "forgot to put the wheels up." Later, he reported that he raised the gear after the departure. However, no preaccident mechanical malfunction or failures were found that would have precluded normal gear retraction for a water landing. Thus, based on the evidence that the airplane nosed over immediately after touchdown and that the landing gear was extended and locked after impact, it is likely that the landing gear was not retracted after takeoff.

NTSB Probable Cause Narrative

The pilot's failure to ensure that the landing gear was retracted for the water landing.

Event Information

Type of Event Accident
Event Date 5/24/2012
Event Day of the Week Thursday
Time of Event 840
Event Time Zone Eastern Daylight Time
Event City Sanford
Event State FLORIDA
Event Country --
Zipcode of the event site 32773
Event Date Year 2012
Event Date Month 5
MidAir Collision Indicator No
On Ground Collision occurred ? No
Event Location Latitude 284316N
Event Location Longitude 0811314W
Event Location Airport Orlando-Sanford International
Event Location Nearest Airport ID SFB
Indicates whether the acc/inc occurred off or on an airport Off Airport/Airstrip
Distance from airport in statute miles 3
Degrees magnetic from airport --
Airport Elevation 55
Weather Briefing Completeness --
Investigator's weather source Weather Observation Facility
Time of the weather observation 845 Eastern Daylight Time
Direction of event from weather observation facility (degrees) 345
Weather Observation Facility ID SFB
Elevation of weather observation facility 55
Distance of event from weather observation facility (units?) 3
Time Zone of the weather observation EDT
Lighting Conditions Day
Lowest Ceiling Height --
Lowest Non-Ceiling Height --
Sky/Lowest/Cloud Conditions Clear
Sky Condition for Lowest Ceiling None
Visibility Runway Visual Range (Feet) --
Visibility Runway Visual Value (Statute Miles) --
Visibility (Statute Miles) 10
Air Temperature at event time (in degrees celsius) 26
Dew Point at event time (in degress fahrenheit) 22
Wind Direction (degrees magnetic) 50
Variable Wind Indicator Wind direction could be determined
Wind Speed (knots) 4
Wind Velocity Indicator --
Wind Gust Indicator Not Gusting
Wind Gust (knots) --
Altimeter Setting at event time (in. Hg) 29.92
Density Altitude (feet) --
Intensity of Precipitation --
METAR weather report --
Event Highest Injury None
On Ground, Fatal Injuries --
On Ground, Minor Injuries --
On Ground, Serious Injuries --
Injury Total Fatal --
Injury Total Minor --
Injury Total None 2
Injury Total Serious --
Injury Total All --
Investigating Agency NTSB
NTSB Docket Number (internal use) 30463
NTSB Notification Source FAA Southern ROC
NTSB Notification Date --
NTSB Notification Time --
Fiche Number and/or location -used to find docket information --
Date of most recent change to record Nov 9 2012 1:59PM
User who most recently changed record johb
Basic weather conditions Visual Meteorological Cond
FAA District Office --

Aircraft Involved

Aircraft #1

Aircraft Registration Number N252JB
NTSB Number ERA12CA361
Missing Aircraft Indicator --
Federal Aviation Reg. Part Part 91: General Aviation
Type of Flight Plan filed None
Flight plan Was Activated? No
Damage Substantial
Aircraft Fire None
Aircraft Explosion None
Aircraft Manufacturer's Full Name LYDON PATRICK F
Aircraft Model SEAREY
Aircraft Series Identifier --
Aircraft Serial Number 1DK 062
Certified Max Gross Weight 1480
Aircraft Category Airplane
Aircraft Registration Class --
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 Conditional
Date of Last Inspection May 20 2012 12:00AM
Airframe hours since last inspection --
Airframe Hours 429
ELT Installed Yes
ELT Activated No
ELT Aided Location of Event Site No
ELT Type C91-A
Aircraft Owner Name MOONBEAM LEASING
Aircraft Owner Street Address --
Aircraft Owner City LONGWOOD
Aircraft Owner State FL
Aircraft Owner Country USA
Aircraft Owner Zipcode 32779-3125
Operator is an individual? No
Operator Name MOONBEAM LEASING
Operator Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Is Doing Business As --
Operator Address Same as Owner? Yes
Operator Street Address --
Operator City LONGWOOD
Operator State FL
Operator Country USA
Operator Zip code 32779-3125
Operator Code --
Owner has at least one certificate None
Other Operator of large aircraft? No
Certified for Part 133 or 137 Operation --
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 Yes
Departure Airport Code SFB
Departure City Sanford
Departure State FL
Departure Country USA
Departure Time 835
Departure Time Zone EDT
Destination Same as Local Flt --
Destination Airport Code LEE
Destination City Leesburg
Destination State FL
Destination Country USA
Specific Phase of Flight --
Report sent to ICAO? --
Evacuation occurred --
Date of most recent change to record Sep 7 2012 4:58PM
User who most recently changed record gots
Since inspection or accident Time of Accident
Event Location Runway Number and Location N/A
Runway Length --
Runway Width --
Sight Seeing flight No
Air Medical Flight No
Medical Flight --