Searey, N385JD: Lake Idamere in Tabares, Florida

AIRCRAFT LANDED ON THE LAKE WITH THE GEARS DOWN, LAKE IDAMERE, NEAR TAVERES, FL

http://registry.faa.govN385JD

TAVARES, Fla. —A Lake County pilot escaped injury after his seaplane crashed while attempting to land.

It happened around 12:30 p.m. on Lake Idamere in Tavares.

Authorities said the pilot was trying to make a water landing, but the wheels on the plane failed to retract and the plane flipped over when it hit the water.

"A fisherman happened to be on the lake right where it went down," said Joyce Ross, spokeswoman for the city of Tavares. "He immediately went to the plane, and the pilot was already outside the plane. He was immediately rescued."

The pilot was not injured, and the plane suffered only minor damage.

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It was towed to a dock belonging to the Progressive Aerodyne company, which manufacturers the same make of seaplanes.

Story and photo:   http://www.wesh.com/