Probable cause
The pilot's failure to verify the position of the landing gear prior to making a water landing.
NTSB analysis
According to the pilot of an amateur built Searey amphibian airplane, he departed Eustis, Florida about 1420 and flew towards Lake Dora, Florida, to do a water landing. The approach onto Lake Dora, was normal. As he touched down he looked and realized that he had not retracted the landing gear. He applied full power and full aft elevator, however the drag from the landing gear did not allow the airspeed to increase and the airplane came to a rapid stop, and sustained substantial damage. The pilot further stated, that he had good instruction, and has flown many different airplanes, "I just made a bad mistake that I hope never happens again."
Text from the NTSB. Open the NTSB docket for MIA08CA085 for the full record.
Event
- Date
- Mar 29, 2008
- Type
- Accident
- Place
- Mount Dora, Florida
- Highest injury
- None
- Weather
- Visual (VMC)
- Light
- Day
Amateur-built Searey
- N-number
- N202MT
- Category
- Airplane
- Damage
- Substantial
- Operating rule
- Part 91 (general aviation)
- Purpose of flight
- Personal
From the NTSB aviation accident database: N-registered aircraft, events since 2008, data through Oct 28, 2026. The file is published monthly, so the latest weeks are incomplete and recent records can change. The official source is the NTSB aviation investigation search. CheckAero is independent and not affiliated with the NTSB.