On June 22, 1985, a DE Havilland DHC-2 (registration N10395) operated by William Hubbard was involved in an aviation accident near Ungalikthluk RV, AK. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain control of the floatplane during landing due to an extreme wind gust that cocked the aircraft. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A floatplane pilot lost control while landing on a river when an extreme wind gust cocked the aircraft, causing it to strike a riverbank and sustain damage.
What happened
The pilot reported that he was in the process of landing a floatplane on a river when an extreme gust of wind suddenly cocked the aircraft, resulting in a loss of control. Following this event, the aircraft struck a river bank and sustained significant damage. The pilot observed that after the landing attempt, the wind conditions had shifted to the southwest and were significantly stronger than before, with estimated gusts reaching 35 knots.
Findings
The primary factor contributing to the accident was the extreme wind gust encountered during the landing phase. The sudden change in wind direction and intensity caused the aircraft to cock, leading directly to the loss of control and subsequent impact with the river bank.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain control of the floatplane during landing due to an extreme wind gust that cocked the aircraft.