Aircraft Overflies Resort Airstrip Before Crashing into River (N36566)

What happened

Observers noted an aircraft flying over the Gastons Resort airstrip. As the plane approached the office complex situated on the south side of the departure end, it appeared to be at an excessive altitude for a landing. The pilot then executed a sudden and unusually steep left turn while the aircraft was midway across the river. During this maneuver, the nose dropped sharply, causing the airplane to strike the water in a left-wing-low attitude with the engine operating at high power. The impact resulted in the left wing separating from the fuselage; that section of the wing was later recovered downstream.

Findings

The sequence of events indicates a loss of control during a low-altitude maneuver. The aircraft's position relative to the airstrip suggested it was too high for a standard approach, prompting an abrupt change in flight path. The subsequent nose drop and water impact were direct consequences of this steep turn.