Accident Overview
A private pilot was landing an amphibious float plane on runway 08 when the aircraft departed the right side of the runway during rollout. The pilot reported no preaccident anomalies with the airplane.
Pilot and Aircraft Details
The pilot had accumulated about 40 total hours of amphibious experience, all in the accident airplane. The airplane was an amphibious float plane, though the specific model was not disclosed in the report.
Weather and Runway Conditions
The runway was wet at the time of landing. Winds were reported to be 070 degrees at 20 knots, gusting to 29 knots. The pilot was aware that strong 90-degree left crosswinds occur near the center of the runway during such conditions. An air taxi pilot who departed the airport about 40 minutes earlier reported telling the accident pilot in flight that the winds were "20 to 25 knots with gusts to at least 30. Direct crosswind from the left and that it was pretty nasty." The accident pilot responded, "doesn't sound too good."
Sequence of Events
The pilot described using a large amount of left aileron during final approach due to the left crosswind, and intentionally landed on the left side of the 100-foot-wide runway, anticipating strong gusts. The initial landing roll felt normal, but the airplane drifted to the right during rollout. As the airplane slowed, a strong left gust lifted the left wing, and the airplane departed the right side of the runway. The pilot did not recall any preaccident anomalies with the airplane.