On September 5, 1998, a Cessna 180J (registration N52130) operated by Burke, Olaf, A. was involved in an aviation accident near Oroville, WA. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing on a lake surface, which resulted in the left wing contacting the water and the subsequent overturning of the aircraft. This summary draws on records from the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) historical archive.
A Piper PA-28 Cherokee landed on a lake surface under reported calm crosswind conditions. Upon touchdown, the left wing struck the water, causing the aircraft to spin and overturn. The pilot confirmed no mechanical failures occurred during the incident.
What happened
The pilot-in-command provided a detailed account of the accident sequence while operating an aircraft on a body of water. At the time of the event, the pilot reported that crosswind conditions were not strong, suggesting relatively benign weather for a water landing.
Upon touchdown, the left wing of the aircraft contacted the water surface. This contact caused the aircraft to spin around and subsequently overturn. The pilot confirmed that no aircraft component malfunction or failure occurred during the event.
The investigation
The investigation focused on the pilot's report and the physical evidence at the scene. The pilot stated that he was landing south on the lake and that the crosswind conditions were not strong. Upon landing the left wing contacted the water and the aircraft spun around and then overturned. The pilot also confirmed no aircraft component malfunction or failure during the event.
Findings
The primary factor in this accident was the contact between the left wing and the water surface during landing. This contact caused the aircraft to spin around and then overturn. The pilot reported that he was landing south on the lake and that the crosswind conditions were not strong. Upon landing the left wing contacted the water and the aircraft spun around and then overturned. The pilot also confirmed no aircraft component malfunction or failure during the event.
Probable cause
The pilot's failure to maintain directional control during landing on a lake surface, which resulted in the left wing contacting the water and the subsequent overturning of the aircraft.