Event Description
According to the pilot's account, the flight departed from his private property at approximately 0620 and proceeded to a friend's private grass strip. During the short final approach, the pilot allowed the airspeed to become slow and the altitude to become low. He increased engine power, but reported that the engine did not seem to respond immediately. Attempting to stretch the glide to reach the intended strip, the airplane skimmed the river water in front of the strip. The nose section then impacted the riverbank, causing the airplane to flip over and come to rest inverted at the beginning of the grass strip. The accident resulted in substantial damage to the vertical empennage.
Subsequent Information
The pilot stated that the airplane was in excellent mechanical condition and that he experienced no mechanical problems during the flight. A review of the pilot's certification by a Federal Aviation Administration inspector revealed that his last medical certificate was issued in February 2007 and had expired.