Seamax Aircraft Ltda SEAMAX M-22 N154RL

Summary

On 17 May 2025 at about 20:00 local time, a Seamax Aircraft Ltda SEAMAX M-22 registered N154RL was involved in an accident near Dahlgren Center, Virginia, United States. One person was on board and one was seriously injured. The aircraft was substantially damaged. The NTSB has published a probable cause for this accident; it is quoted in full below.

Date

17 May 2025 at 20:00

Classification

Accident

Location

Dahlgren Center, Virginia, United States

Coordinates

38.3329, -77.0370

Aircraft

Seamax Aircraft Ltda SEAMAX M-22

Registration

N154RL

Category

Airplane

Year built

2019

Engines

1

Operator

Not recorded

Operating rule

Part 91: General Aviation

Purpose of flight

Personal

Phase of flight

Not recorded

Route

Unknown → Fredericksburg

Aircraft damage

Substantial

Weather

VMC

Light

Day

NTSB number

ERA25LA203

1 person was seriously injured.

The pilot’s failure to maintain adequate airspeed and his exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack during the initial climb, which resulted in an aerodynamic stall. Contributing to the accident was the pilot’s decision to take off with a known tailwind.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record. This site does not paraphrase or interpret it.

Read the full NTSB narrative

After three aborted upwind water takeoff attempts due to water washing over the cockpit area and obstructing the view, the pilot attempted a downwind takeoff that prevented the water from cresting over the cockpit. Video footage showed that, after what appeared to be a normal takeoff run, the airplane rotated and lifted off; however, during the initial climb the airplane appeared to struggle to ascend. The wings rocked back and forth as the airplane climbed to about 200 ft above the water surface. The pilot then made a left turn; shortly after, the left wing dropped, and the airplane abruptly descended in a left spiral until it impacted the water. On-board engine parameter data showed normal engine operation until the moment of impact. Postaccident airframe and engine examination did not reveal any preimpact malfunction or anomaly that would preclude normal operation or performance. While taking off with a tailwind and during the subsequent climb, the pilot likely failed to maintain adequate airspeed during the turn, which resulted in the exceedance of the airplane’s critical angle of attack and an aerodynamic stall. The airplane’s low altitude prevented recovery.

Quoted verbatim from the NTSB record.