Accident Details
On July 16, 2019, at about 1700 eastern daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built SeaRey amphibious airplane, registration N632FG, was substantially damaged when it nosed over during a water landing near Crescent, Florida. The pilot, who was the sole occupant, was seriously injured. The flight was conducted under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 as a personal flight.
Pilot Account
According to the pilot, he had been troubleshooting an engine start problem prior to the flight and discovered that the engine had lost its ground connection to the airframe. He decided to conduct a test flight to verify the fix. He departed and flew for about 15 minutes before returning for a full-stop landing on the water. The pilot described the wind as calm and the water as “glass smooth.” During the landing, he applied forward stick and “instantly I found myself underwater.” He later stated that he believed he lost depth perception when he leveled for touchdown and was higher than he thought.
Witness Reports
Witnesses reported seeing the airplane nose over just prior to landing.
Post-Accident Examination
A Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspector examined the airplane at the accident site. The nose section was partially separated from the fuselage.
Engine Test
After the accident, friends of the pilot performed an engine test run. They reported that the engine started immediately, accelerated smoothly, and ran continuously without interruption.