Seawind 3000 accident near Bellevue, WA
On September 15, 2023, a Seawind 3000 (airplane) was involved in an accident near Bellevue, WA. 1 person died. Damage to the aircraft: substantial.
- Date
- September 15, 2023
- Place
- Bellevue, WA
- Aircraft
- Seawind 3000 · Airplane
- Injuries
- 1 fatal, 1 serious, 0 minor
- Damage
- Substantial
- Position
- 47.602°N, 122.098°W
- NTSB ID
- 20230915193072
Official records · WPR23FA344
- Public docket: reports, statements and exhibits from the investigation
NTSB summary
On September 15, 2023, about 1058 Pacific daylight time, an experimental, amateur-built Seawind 3000 amphibious airplane, N57TJ, was substantially damaged when it was involved in an accident near Bellevue, Washington. The pilot was fatally injured and the passenger was seriously injured. The airplane was operated as a Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 91 personal flight. According to witnesses, the airplane was initially heard and then seen departing from Lake Sammamish in a south-southeast direction. During the step phase of takeoff, the airplane skipped on the water three times before pitching up, banking to one side, and then impacting the water. Several witnesses recalled the engine sounding normal. Another witness, who was also a pilot of an amphibious airplane, saw the accident airplane during the takeoff and said everything looked normal. The airplane got up on the step and was close to takeoff speed when it hit three large wakes or waves. The first two waves led to significant bounces off the water that resulted in the airplane jumping up a few feet before coming back down and contacting the water again. However, when the airplane hit the third wave, it pitched up sharply and climbed about 30–40 ft before nosing down at a 30–35° angle, impacting the lake, and flipping over onto its back. A security camera captured audio and video of the airplane during the accident sequence. The engine rpm increased shortly before the airplane came into view from the left side of the frame. The video was consistent with witness observations and showed calm water near the sho
Probable cause
The pilot’s loss of airplane control after encountering a lake swell and skipping during takeoff.
More accidents in WA
- Dehavilland DHC-3, Sep 4, 2022
- Cessna 208B, Oct 8, 2007
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- Piper PA-32-260, Jul 29, 2001
- Beech A60, Nov 21, 1992
Browse: Washington
Source: NTSB aviation accident database (US government, public domain). Findings may be preliminary or later revised by the NTSB. Not a complete global record.
