What happened
A private pilot and two passengers, including a Fish and Wildlife Protection Officer and a State Trooper, were operating a wheel/ski-equipped airplane for hunter surveillance activities. While performing a landing to the west on a lake covered in hard-packed snow and ice, the pilot attempted to correct for what was believed to be a left crosswind.
As the aircraft approached the end of its 950-foot landing roll, the nose veered to the left, causing the airplane to slide sideways. The aircraft turned approximately 90 degrees to the left, at which point the right ski dug into the snow. This motion caused the right wing and right stabilizer to strike the surface of the frozen lake. The pilot later noted that upon exiting the aircraft, he discovered the actual wind conditions were a left quartering tailwind of approximately 15 knots.
The investigation
The investigation found that the aircraft sustained substantial damage to the right wing and right stabilizer. No pre-accident mechanical anomalies were identified in the aircraft.