Incident Overview
A pilot was moving his float-equipped airplane from his personal pier to the opposite side of a lake, intending to temporarily dock at a friend's pier. Instead of performing a water taxi, the pilot chose to fly the aircraft across the lake. He departed into the wind.
Flight and Weather Conditions
During the climbout, the airplane encountered heavy rain showers. The precipitation obscured forward visibility through the windshield, limiting the pilot's ability to see ahead.
Landing and Collision
The pilot executed a downwind landing to the lake, relying on the side window for visibility. He reported that during the landing, he was unable to slow the airplane sufficiently to avoid a collision with a pier. The airplane struck the pier, resulting in structural damage to the fuselage.