On May 23, 1983, a Piper PA-18-150 (registration N2797P) operated by Larry Alan Wright was involved in an aviation accident near Anchorage, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the water landing, which resulted in the aircraft inverting. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
An amphibious aircraft landed smoothly on a lake but veered sharply after planing, causing it to submerge and invert. The pilot corrected initially but lost control.
What happened
The pilot was conducting a water landing on a lake. He reported selecting one notch of flaps for the approach, maintaining an airspeed between 50 and 55 mph. The initial touchdown was described as smooth. After planing on the water surface for approximately three to four seconds, the aircraft began to veer to the left. The pilot applied right rudder correction to straighten the path. However, the aircraft suddenly veered sharply to the right instead of responding to the input. This maneuver caused the right float tip to submerge, leading to the aircraft inverting and sinking.
The investigation
The investigation relied primarily on the pilot's account of the event. No mechanical examination was possible due to the loss of the aircraft. The sequence of events indicates a loss of directional control during the planing phase of the water landing.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during the water landing, which resulted in the aircraft inverting.
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