Amateur-built Sea Rey N969TF accident near Sanibel Island, Florida

Probable cause

The pilot’s failure to add power during a low-level turn, which resulted in a loss of airspeed and a subsequent stall.

NTSB analysis

The pilot was flying about 100 feet above the surface of the water, 300 to 400 feet offshore. As he entered a 180-degree turn he forgot to add power and the airplane lost 70 feet of altitude. The pilot then completed the turn about 30 feet above the water and at 40 miles per hour airspeed, and felt that “adding power did not seem appropriate” as he was “heading toward the beach with people everywhere.” The pilot then elected to allow the airplane to stall and crash into the water. A wreckage examination was conducted by the responding Federal Aviation Administration inspector who found no prexisting mechanical abnormalities or failures with the airplane.

Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for ERA10LA085 for the full record.