Accident Details
A single-engine amphibian airplane nosed over while landing on a lake. The aircraft was configured for a normal approach into the wind during what the pilot described as the first of many planned practice water landings.
Pilot Account
At approximately 400 feet MSL, the pilot inadvertently selected the landing gear handle while reaching for the flap handle. Both the landing gear and flap handles are two-position levers, with the flaps being either full UP or full DOWN, similar to the landing gear lever.
During the subsequent approach, the pilot performed a flow check. However, a rising sun created a glare within the cockpit, which he reported prevented verification of the positions of the flaps and landing gear. Confirmation of the landing gear position using external mirrors was also impaired by the sunlight.
Upon contact with the water, the airplane violently flipped over onto its back.
Circumstances
The pilot stated that for the previous three weeks he had been unable to practice water landings due to maintenance on the nose gear doors. During that period, he performed landings on hard surface runways.