Decker Daniel B SEAREY N40DJ

Summary

On 23 February 2025 at about 19:00 local time, a Decker Daniel B SEAREY registered N40DJ was involved in an accident near Tavares, Florida, United States. 2 people were on board and 2 had minor injuries. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

23 February 2025 at 19:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Tavares, Florida, United States

Nearest airport

Tavares Seaplane Base (FA1)

Coordinates

28.8006, -81.7278

Aircraft

Decker Daniel B SEAREY

Registration

N40DJ

Category

Airplane

Year built

2010

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Lantana → Unknown

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA25LA124

2 people had minor injuries.

The pilot’s improper flare during a bounced water landing, which resulted in a nose-down and submersion of the airplane’s open cockpit in the water.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

The pilot of the experimental amateur-built amphibous airplane reported that the wind was variable at 4 knots while he was attempting to land on a lake. The approach was normal; however, the airplane bounced 1 to 3 ft upon touchdown. The pilot opted not to abort the landing and recalled that when the airplane next contacted the water, the (open) cockpit was filled with water. The forward portion of the fuselage was substantially damaged during the accident sequence. The pilot stated that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation, and that the accident could have been prevented with more training on “…the importance of keeping the nose up during water landings.”

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.