On October 8, 1989, a Cessna 185F (registration N7321H) was involved in an aviation accident near Rockwood, ME. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: A gust of wind that raised the left wing, allowing the right wing to strike the water and cause the airplane to cartwheel, due to the pilot's decision to touch down near the mouth of a river. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A float-equipped Cessna cartwheeled after landing on a lake when a wind gust raised the left wing, allowing the right wing to strike the water.
The aircraft touched down on the surface of a lake. Shortly after touchdown, a gust of wind lifted the left wing of the float-equipped Cessna. This lift caused the right wing to contact the water, resulting in the airplane cartwheeling.
The pilot stated that the wind gust appeared to originate from the mouth of a river adjacent to the lake. The pilot noted that he should have touched down before reaching the mouth of the river.
A gust of wind that raised the left wing, allowing the right wing to strike the water and cause the airplane to cartwheel, due to the pilot's decision to touch down near the mouth of a river.