Accident Sequence
While maneuvering for landing, the airplane executed a left turn to final approach. During this turn, the left landing gear contacted the surface of a lake. This contact caused the airplane to settle into the water and become fully submerged approximately 100 feet short of the intended landing area.
Background Information
The pilot reported that he had been using this private airstrip, located on the shore of a reservoir, since 1965. Prior to the accident flight, the pilot performed several passes over the area to assess the condition of the unimproved landing surface. He noted that the lake level was higher than normal, which reduced the available landing area to about 600 feet.
Pilot Assessment
The pilot stated that the accident was caused by his failure to determine the proximity of the water surface. The pilot also reported that there were no preimpact mechanical malfunctions or failures with the airplane. No other factors were mentioned by the pilot.