Accident Details
On May 17, 2025, at about 1600 eastern daylight time, a special light sport amphibious Seamax M-22 airplane, registration N154RL, was substantially damaged when it impacted the water near Dahlgren, Virginia. The pilot sustained serious injuries. The flight was conducted as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight.
According to family, the pilot and a passenger departed from the pilot's home airport near Fredericksburg, Virginia, and flew to Dahlgren for an amphibious water landing on the Potomac River. After dropping off the passenger, the pilot taxied out for an attempted takeoff. The water during the taxi and initial takeoff run was choppy. The pilot stated that he aborted the takeoff because water was breaking over the front of the fuselage, hindering performance and limiting visibility. He then turned around to take off downwind. The downwind takeoff run was much smoother, and the airplane lifted off smoothly and began to climb. After raising the flaps, the pilot felt a gust of wind roll the airplane. He attempted to level the wings and descend, after which he lost control.
Surveillance footage from four separate cameras on shore showed the airplane during the downwind takeoff run on a west-to-east track. After what appeared to be a normal takeoff run, the airplane rotated and lifted off, but during the initial climb, it appeared to struggle to ascend. The wings rocked back and forth as the airplane climbed to about 200 feet above the water surface. The airplane then made a left turn to the north; shortly after, the left wing dropped, and the airplane abruptly descended in a left spiral until it impacted the water. Emergency personnel reported that the airplane floated briefly and the pilot was rescued. There was a brief postimpact engine compartment fire.
Postaccident Examination
Examination of the wreckage revealed evidence consistent with the airplane impacting the water in a steep nose-down attitude. The water was about 8 feet deep at the point of impact. There was substantial damage to the airframe; the left wing was impact-separated, and the cockpit and fuselage were fractured and crushed in multiple locations. The empennage remained attached by control rods and cables. All flight control surfaces remained attached to their respective positions and were manually manipulated with corresponding cable movement. All fractures in the flight control cables had a “broomstraw” appearance consistent with overload. All flight control surfaces and critical components were discovered at the location of the wreckage.
The engine was mounted on top of the airframe in a pusher configuration and was exposed to fire near the propeller side; however, the engine was largely intact, and most of the thermal damage was limited to plastic and wiring insulation. There was no evidence of a preimpact engine or airframe fire. Engine crankshaft and valvetrain continuity was established when the propeller was manually rotated. The spark plugs showed normal wear according to the Champion Aviation Check-A-Plug AV-27 chart. The engine appeared well lubricated, and the oil tank (dry sump forced lubrication system) was intact and full of oil. The three-blade composite propeller remained attached to the hub and reduction gearbox assembly and was manually rotated without hinderance. One blade was destroyed by the postimpact fire; the other blades remained intact. During manual operation of the propeller, water was forced out of the cylinders and the air filter assembly.
The engine fuel line adjacent to the cylinders was examined, and about 5 ounces of liquid with the smell and color of aviation fuel were recovered; it was free of water or other contaminants. A Rockwell Collins ECU-204-102 was removed and delivered to the NTSB Vehicle Recorder Division for examination. Thirty-six data parameters were captured, including oil pressure, engine speed, oil temperature, fuel flow, exhaust gas temperature, and throttle position. All parameters revealed normal engine operation. No preimpact anomalies were discovered on the airframe or engine that would preclude normal operation or performance.